CHERRIES sharpshooter Joshua King has sounded out a warning to Premier League defenders: “I’m fit now.”

King last night revealed his impressive scoring exploits at the end of last season had come despite him playing through the pain barrier.

The 25-year-old confirmed he had sustained a back injury during Cherries’ 3-2 win over West Ham in March – a game in which he plundered a hat-trick.

King went on to net a further five goals in Cherries’ final nine matches, with his total haul of 16 helping the club secure ninth place in the top flight.

The Norwegian international finished the campaign as the eighth highest goalscorer in the Premier League and was rewarded by Cherries with a new four-year contract.

King, who scored a penalty in Norway’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan earlier this month, opened his account for Cherries in the Carabao Cup win over Brighton.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was injured for most of the end of last season, since the West Ham game.

“I came back for pre-season and didn’t train for two weeks. I was a bit behind the others and was still struggling. I needed a bit more time.

“It sorted it and my back is fine. All is good now.”

King, who netted the only goal to settle the midweek cup tie in extra-time, added: “It was great to score after going five games without a goal.

“I got the penalty for Norway but it was good to get my first goal in open play. It was great to get off the mark but you want to score in every game.

“After the way I finished last season, you set your targets and want to score early to get yourself going and beat your previous tally.

“I don’t expect anything but always want to better myself and improve as a player.

“I scored 16 last season so my aim for this season is to beat that and I know I am capable of doing it.

“I just have to keep working hard. I have great team-mates with me and this is the best dressing room I have ever been in.

“We haven’t had the best of starts but that is two wins in a row now so we just need to take that confidence into Everton on Saturday and try to get back to where we finished last season.”

Boss Eddie Howe unleashed King from the bench during the closing stages of normal time and saw him pop up with the winner in the ninth minute of the first period of extra-time.

Howe said: “I thought Josh did well and the goal was the quality moment in the match. The interplay between him and Marc Pugh in a really tight area was excellent.

“It was good for him and us to see him score. The fact both Josh and Jermain are off the mark are big moments for us.

“You need your strikers full of confidence and believing they are going to score in every game. Hopefully, that will do them both the world of good.”