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First Team

Cook on start to the season and England duty

AFC Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook is enjoying his football at the club, he told TalkSPORT while on international duty.

Cook, 21, has fought his way into the team in the last two Premier League games, which have seen the club record back-to-back wins and propel them to fifth in the Premier League table.

The hardest thing about the flying opening to the season is maintaining it, Cook said, but he feels the squad is eager to maintain the excellent form.

WATCH LEWIS COOK TAKE ON NATHAN AKE ON FIFA 19 - CLICK HERE

"It’s been a great start," he said.

"The team have been fantastic, everyone is together and despite what the table says it hasn’t been easy.

"The games have been tough and it’s obviously never easy in the Premier League. We’re in a good spot so far but we have to maintain that, that’s the hardest thing to do in the Premier League.

"We’re scoring quite a lot of goals, the forwards and wide men are doing well and it’s always enjoyable if you’re winning by a few goals.

"I’m trying to focus on my individual role in the side – the manager has done fantastically well for the club and we’re very happy with where we’re at at the moment."

Cook is currently on England under-21s duty and they face Andorra and Scotland, with the Andorra game taking place at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium.

A win against Andorra will send the Young Lions through to the 2019 UEFA European U21 Championship, but the midfielder feels the positive vibes amongst the England set up as a whole will stand the squad in good stead.

"This camp is a massive one to get qualification and we’re working hard to get that first win in the first game and get the job done.

"Everyone wants to beat us, and that’s the pressure that comes from winning tournaments.

"It’s a great time to be in and around the England setup and it’s a good pressure for us, it helps people excel and give their all.

"Everyone wants to be playing and most of our squad are, at our age we need to be getting as many games as possible and bringing our club form into the internationals.

"Everyone who has gone into the seniors fully deserve it, everyone has been good at their clubs, given their all with England and they’re all young lads getting an opportunity – it does add a bit of pressure but you want to keep winning tournaments and that’s a good thing."