NEW arrival Leon Best has set his sights on helping Cherries get off to a flying start after being handed the club's coveted number nine shirt.

Best will follow in the footsteps of a host of illustrious strikers when he dons the famous jersey in Cherries' League One opener against Chesterfield on Saturday (3pm).

The powerfully-built 19-year-old looks certain to spearhead the Cherries attack at Dean Court after signing on a month's loan from Southampton earlier this week.

Best trained with Sean O'Driscoll's squad for the first time on Thursday and was joined at Canford School by friend and fellow new recruit Lionel Ainsworth.

Ainsworth, who like Best was born in Nottingham, could also start against the Spireites after joining Cherries on a long-term loan deal from Derby.

Best told the Daily Echo: "I can't wait to get started and I'm really looking forward to it. I've had a good pre-season this year after missing out last year with a broken foot.

"I'm feeling fit and they've got a good, young team here. Hopefully it will be goals, goals, goals all the way!"

Best was O'Driscoll's number one target throughout the summer after impressing the Cherries boss during his regular scouting trips to watch Saints reserves.

A Republic of Ireland under-19 team-mate of Steven Foley, Best has gained experience in both the Premiership and the Championship since moving to St Mary's from Notts County in 2003. He turned out for Saints in the top flight and has also spent time on loan at QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.

Best, who was also being tracked by Nottingham Forest and Northampton, is the latest product of the Saints Academy to join Cherries on loan, following Andrew Surman, Martin Cranie and Matthew Mills.

He added: "George Burley said Bournemouth were a good club and he thinks I'll do well here.

"I also spoke to the other lads who came here on loan and they said it was a wonderful place and that's what guided me here.

"I've had a couple of other loan spells and QPR was a learning curve for me which I really enjoyed.

"I broke my foot the first time I went to Sheffield Wednesday and probably didn't play as much as I would have liked the second time.

"I didn't know anything about coming here when we reported back for pre-season but after we'd played Bournemouth in a friendly, I heard they were interested and it looked a good move for me.

"It's close to Southampton and I was impressed when we played them.

"They like to knock the ball around and I can only see good things here.

"I'm here for a month initially but it could be extended. Anything can happen and I'll just try to take it in my stride and hopefully I've got some goals in me for Bournemouth."