STAR striker Jermain Defoe insisted it was only a “matter of time” before his goals start flying in for Cherries in the Premier League.

The 35-year-old frontman, known for his goalscoring prowess at both club and international level, also claimed a striker’s fortunes can change in an instant, providing they continue to get in the right positions.

Cherries have scored just four times in their opening seven league contests so far this season.

They have failed to find the net on four separate occasions – the most recent being the goalless stalemate with Leicester City at Vitality Stadium last time out.

Defoe opened his account following his return to the club from Sunderland by netting the winner in Cherries’ 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

And having struck the woodwork in games against Arsenal and the Foxes, he has full faith that a goalscoring run is just around the corner.

He told the Daily Echo: “If I was playing games and I wasn’t getting any chances, I would be thinking it was strange because, in my whole career, I have played in games where I get chances.

“You just keep getting in positions, the same positions to score, and then, before you know it, you play a game and score a hat-trick.

“Even the great forwards like (Alan) Shearer or (Gary) Lineker are never afraid to miss because, if you keep doing the right things, it’s only a matter of time before it goes in.

“It can all change in one game.”

He added: “When you have done something so many times over the years, it’s just a matter of time.

“When you are scoring goals, you’re buzzing and you know you are flying - you enjoy it.

“Against Arsenal I hit the post, against Leicester I hit the crossbar. On another day they would hit the inside of the post and go in, or fall back to me and I would tap it in.”

One man who Defoe is looking forward to linking up with in the Dorset Club’s striking department is Callum Wilson, who scored twice for Cherries in the Central League on Tuesday.

Those strikes Were Wilson’s first since returning from a second serious knee injury and England striker Defoe insists he has a lot of admiration for his fellow frontman.

“At one point there was talk of Callum getting in the England squad,” the former Tottenham and Portsmouth hitman added.

“With the goals he has scored and his movement, he is quick and he is an exciting forward.

“For Callum, it’s one of those where you see someone get an injury and they are out for a long time. To do it again - it’s so tough.

“I respect him, especially mentally, to be strong and think ‘okay I am going to try to come back stronger’.

“He has looked good in training and it’s good because we are going to need his goals. You need everyone, as it’s such a long season.”