JUNIOR Stanislas says his enduring fear of being dropped is the driving force behind the rich vein of form the winger admits could be the best of his career.

Stanislas had a delayed start to his campaign following hernia surgery in the summer. But since making his top-flight return in last month’s home victory over West Brom, the Londoner has been one of Cherries’ star men.

He scored twice as Eddie Howe’s team thumped Hull City 6-1 on Saturday and has now hit the target three times this term – matching his Premier League tally for the entirety of last season.

Stanislas told the Daily Echo: “I don’t want to come out of the team. I’ll do everything I can to stay in it. I’m working hard and hopefully I’ll get more goals and assists to give the manager a bit of a problem.

“Perhaps (I am playing my best football). I’m certainly enjoying it the most. I’m playing at the level I want to play at so hopefully I can keep progressing.”

In addition to his own double strike against Hull, Stanislas’s dead ball wizardry created goals for Charlie Daniels and Steve Cook.

The 26-year-old is fast developing a reputation as a set-piece expert, something he says is another product of his hard work. Stanislas has also taken heed of Howe’s suggestion that he should glean as much pleasure from providing goals as he does from scoring them.

“I work on free-kicks after training,” said Stanislas. “I stay out and practice, sometimes have a few competitions with the staff, which is enjoyable. Hopefully a few of them will start going in now rather than coming off the woodwork!

“The manager said I should take the same level of pride in an assist as I do a goal. If we’re winning games it doesn’t matter who’s scoring, as long as I’m contributing.”

Stanislas nonchalantly stroked home a penalty against Hull, before sweeping an Adam Smith cross into the back of the net with the air of man whose confidence levels are through the roof.

He accepts that is the case, but the ex-West Ham man is committed to a path of continual improvement. And in Howe, who first signed the player at Burnley, before bringing him to Cherries in 2014, Stanislas believes he has the perfect mentor.

He said: “When you’re winning and playing alright you do feel high on confidence. But I need to keep working and adding to that.

“The manager works with us individually. I’ve worked under him in two different spells now. I enjoy working with him and hopefully he can take me to the next level.”

Stanislas admits to setting himself certain targets – although he’s keeping those close to his chest.

“I am going to keep that to myself if you don’t mind,” he said. “I don’t want to put it out there and jinx myself, so hopefully I can hit those targets and then set some more.”