BURNLEY striker Sam Vokes admits Cherries' transformation from League Two strugglers to Premier League competitors has been 'frightening'.

The former Priestlands School pupil, who has three goals in his past three appearances, revealed that after departing Cherries he never thought he would face his former club in the top flight.

Still a popular figure at Dean Court, Lymington-raised Vokes joined Cherries as a schoolboy and made his debut in December 2006, two months after his 17th birthday.

The frontman went on to score four goals that campaign as the Dorset side narrowly survived the drop from League One. And although he bolstered his tally by racking up 12 goals in 2007-08, Cherries were relegated to the bottom tier of the Football League and started the following season on minus 17 points.

Vokes moved to Wolves the summer in between and ended up going on loan to a string of clubs – including the Clarets – before joining the Turf Moor club on a permanent deal five years ago.

Reflecting on his spell at Cherries, Vokes told the Lancashire Telegraph: "It was a massive part of my career. It was where I started off and I owe a great debt to the club – they gave me my chance in professional football.

"Looking back it's quite strange. Eight years ago when I left them they were minus 17 points in League Two. So to see the transformation now is frightening, really.

"It's unbelievable. The day I left, I didn't think I'd be facing them in the Premier League, that's for sure.

"The rise they've had as a club has been huge. Eddie Howe being manager has been a huge part of that. I played alongside him when I made my debut. That was 11 years ago.

"Then I left and when he managed at Burnley, I joined him."

Asked if he had been worried about Cherries' future when he departed Dorset, Vokes said: "Yes, I think so. It was quite a sad state when I left the club.

"Starting 17 points behind everyone else was a tough task and they stayed up on the last day of League Two.

"To see the club stay up was great to see but I would never have imagined them being a Premier League team six years later. It's a credit to them for the job they have done."

Vokes believes Cherries could prove an example to his current club, who made the jump from Championship to top flight last season.

"They are a team we looked at, at the start of the year," said Vokes. "The likes of Bournemouth, Watford and a few teams that have gone up and survived.

"They are maybe not one of the biggest clubs in the league but to survive is a huge achievement."

Vokes, who helped Wales into the Euro 2016 semi-finals after scoring in the last-eight clash with Belgium, bagged a brace in Burnley's 2-2 draw against West Brom last weekend.