SKIPPER Simon Francis insisted Cherries had the “right mentality” to turn around their poor form in the Premier League.

The defender also described tomorrow's home clash with Brighton as “massive” for the club.

Francis made his return to action at Arsenal on Saturday, after being plagued by a hamstring injury he picked up on the opening day of the season at West Brom.

And with his own comeback secured, the captain is determined to help improve his team’s difficult start to the campaign.

Speaking ahead of the encounter with the Seagulls, Francis told the Daily Echo: “It has become a massive game for us at home.

“We have had setbacks and been on runs where we haven’t won for four or five games in a row.

“Suddenly, a performance or a result can kick-start our season. We can go on a run of the opposite and win games back-to-back.

“We know we can do that, we know the belief we have in the squad.

“We have the right mentality, the right character and, of course, the right manager behind us.

“He has been excellent when times have been hard and has been the reason we have turned it around.

“We have to do that again.”