CHERRIES striker Benik Afobe is targeting "more starts and more goals" despite increased competition from Jermain Defoe in the frontline ranks.

Former Wolves striker Afobe was used sparingly by boss Eddie Howe in the first half of last season, only making his first Premier League start of the campaign in December.

However, the 24-year-old got more match minutes after Christmas and forged a fruitful partnership with Joshua King, ending the season with six goals to his name having made 14 top-flight starts.

Afobe's task of earning a regular spot has been made tougher by the summer signing of England international Defoe, who has scored more than 250 career goals and arrived in Dorset to much fanfare.

But despite the recruitment of Defoe and the pre-existing competition among Cherries' array of forwards, Afobe is optimistic of bettering his statistics and performances in the upcoming season.

Afobe told the Daily Echo: "We have players with great quality in every position. You have to perform to the best of your ability, work hard and be strong.

"It's a long season and I found that out last season where I wasn't playing at the beginning but I kept patient and worked hard, I was friendly and bubbly around the place and when I got my chance, I took it.

"I stayed in the team for a long period of time and, hopefully, next season I will build on that and get more starts and more goals.

"We have got great players here and every position is up for grabs. You have to work hard and keep enjoying it and that's what I've been doing.

"You have to be patient as well. We are a squad and a team here and whoever plays is the manager's decision. You have to do well, work hard and when your time comes, hopefully, you take it."

A £9million signing from Wolves in January last year, Afobe feels more a part of the Cherries squad than in the early stages of his spell at the club.

And he credits close friend Jack Wilshere as a key player in that transformation following the Gunners midfielder's loan spell in Dorset last term.

Afobe added: "Jack is my best friend outside of football so being with him was great.

"When I first signed, for the first six months, I was pretty quiet. I didn't really do much with the boys outside of the football, not because I didn't want to, just because I kept myself to myself.

"When Jack came along, I blossomed a bit more. Everyone was buzzing that a world-class player was coming here. We started to do things with other players and I feel much more a part of the squad now than I did when I first came.

"Even though he is not here any more, that has continued and now I just want to do well next season."

Wilshere's loan stint at Cherries was cruelly cut short when he broke his leg at Tottenham in mid-April.