STRIKER Tokelo Rantie insists he has nothing to prove to the people who count at Cherries – but would love to silence the critics.

Rantie stepped out of the wilderness to become only the 13th South Africa international to play in the Premier League when he came on as a 79th-minute substitute against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Bafana Bafana star has not started a competitive first-team match for Cherries for more than a year with his last league appearance being an 89th-minute cameo against Middlesbrough in March.

His wait has been indicative of his fraught spell at Cherries with just five goals in 42 league appearances – 28 from the bench – since his then-record-breaking switch from Swedish club Malmo in August 2013.

But having finally made the breakthrough after a series of niggling injuries, Rantie reckons his time is about to come.

Rantie told the Daily Echo: “I believe I deserve my chance because I have been working very hard. I have been encouraged by my team-mates and I am very happy to get my first Premier League appearance.

“It is always difficult because when I have been able to train hard, I believe I have given myself the opportunity to get into the team.

“When I do have setbacks, it feels like I am taking 10 steps backwards. It is difficult to catch up because we have a lot of quality players so for me to just break in is very difficult.

“But I am glad to be back now. Hopefully, I can keep working hard and then my chances will most definitely come.”

On the prospect of proving himself at Dean Court, Rantie added: “I don’t think I should be worried about being pointed out as the one because this is a family.

“In everything we do, if we succeed, we succeed together, if we fail, we fail together so I don’t see myself as someone who should think too much about that at the moment.

“I had things, injuries and stuff, which limited my chances to get into the team so hopefully, if I can stay injury free, I will never hear anyone talking about things like that.

“I believe now the only thing left is to get my chances and prove myself to anyone who has doubted me.”

Meanwhile, Rantie admitted he had found his omission from the first-team setup awkward to deal with.

“You can’t feel well when you say you are footballer but you are not playing matches,” he said. “For me, that period was the hardest and I am still going through difficulties, even today.

“But now, I feel a big step closer to getting out of the situation. The most important thing for me is to stay injury free and keep working hard.”