This weekend’s clash with Leeds United is bound to feel like more than just a game for Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook. The Yorkshire-born midfielder looks set to make his first appearance against the Whites on Saturday after leaving Elland Road in 2016.
Cook started his career at Leeds, working his way through the club’s academy ranks and into the United first-team at the age of just 17. After making his debut in 2014, he went on to make 85 appearances in all competitions over two seasons for the Whites before sealing a move to Bournemouth in 2016 for an initial £6m fee.
As a homegrown talent, Cook was popular at Elland Road and he has been linked with a return on one or two occasions since. However, the 25-year-old will be aiming to push his old club back towards the Premier League relegation zone this weekend and end the Cherries three-game losing streak.
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Bournemouth’s interim boss Gary O’Neil knows all about the pressures of such a situation, having returned to former clubs a number of times as a player, and he’s confident that Cook will be able to handle the occasion.
“I always felt there was a little bit of you that wants to do well in that game,” O’Neil said, as per the Bournemouth Echo. “But you always want to do well anyway.
“It’s about the team. Lewis Cook has been brilliant for us since I took over in the Wolves game.
“He’s been an integral part of every performance we’ve put in. He’ll be big again for us on Saturday, I’m sure.”
Cook has made 13 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth this season, striking up an effective partnership with Jefferson Lerma in the centre of the pitch. His performances helped Bournemouth make a strong start to life back in the top flight, too, but the South Coast outfit have hit a slump over the last few weeks and they’ll be looking to climb out of it with a result at Elland Road.
Bournemouth have lost their last three games, against Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton, with their last win coming over Leicester City at the start of October. As such, depending on results elsewhere, they could find themselves in the bottom three by the end of the weekend should they fail to beat Leeds.
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