READING v B’MOUTH

Championship: 8pm

BY ALEX CROOK

SCOTT PARKER says England international Lewis Cook is ready to join Bournemouth’s promotion push after battling back from two serious knee injuries.

Midfielder Cook, 24, is set to make his first appearance since surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament in March when the unbeaten Championship leaders travel to Reading tonight.

Manager Parker (right) said of Cook (bottom right): “I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Lewis, so the challenge now will be to try and force his way into this team and this squad. I have no doubt he can do that.

“Lewis has got big quality. I think he’s ready now. I was a player and I realise during injuries they’re the worst moments really, when you feel really low.

“Certainly long-term ones and to go and do the same injury like Lewis has, psychologically that probably would’ve been a big blow for him.

“Since I’ve come in, I picked him up on a stage of his rehab where he was the other side of that really. Or the other side where he was pushing on a little bit.

I’ve seen someone very positive. He works hard and is definitely someone I look at who grafts, who wants to work hard, who takes pride in what he does and wants to become better.

“With that attitude, you’ve got a chance.

“I’m sure it’s been some tough moments for Lewis, just in the nature of two injuries and long-term like they’ve been. But I’ve certainly been impressed with him where he is.”

As they head into their 15th Championship match, Bournemouth are the only team in the entire EFL yet to taste defeat this season and are five points clear at the top of the table.

Striker Dominic Solanke believes assist king Ryan Christie – he has five this season – deserves a lot of the plaudits for the Cherries’ stunning start to the campaign.

Scotland ace Christie quit Celtic to join the Cherries in a bargain £1.5million deal and Solanke said: “He’s been amazing.

“You can see with the assists that he’s got this season how much he’s helped us. We knew that from the moment we signed him and we’re lucky to have him.

“It will be nice when he gets his first goal after all the assists. As long as we keep winning and everyone does their part, it’s good.”