STEVE Cook delivered a brutally honest assessment of his efforts in the opening weeks of the season, admitting: "I probably let myself down."

But the Cherries defender claimed he was now "in a better place" having made his first Premier League start in five weeks in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

His previous league start came in the 3-0 loss against Arsenal last month, before a knee problem kept the 26-year-old out of the 2-1 win over Brighton.

Cook played 11 minutes during Cherries' defeat at Everton and was an unused substitute for the stalemate with Leicester before the international break.

Despite being troubled by injury last month, the centre-half claimed his individual form had been something of a concern.

He told the Daily Echo: “I probably let myself down a little bit. It was my fault I came out of the team and stayed out for a few games.

“Over the past few weeks I have had to work hard to try to get myself back to the level I was at last season. Players go through bad form. I had mine early on.

“I thought I could get through it on my own, whereas I probably didn’t use the resources around me to help out.

“Ability is only one key element of this game. I just wasn’t performing at the level you need to stay in this team and play in the Premier League.

“I found myself coming out of the team on an injury but I probably deserved to come out of the team anyway because of my performances.

“I feel I am in a better place now and, hopefully, I can reach the levels I reached last year.”

Cook was ever present last season as Cherries secured ninth place in the Premier League, the highest finish in club history.

He capped a memorable individual campaign by winning the prestigious Daily Echo-Micky Cave supporters’ player-of-the-year award.

And having put in a solid display against high-flying Spurs at Wembley Stadium, he is eager to retain his place in Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

Asked about stepping out at the home of English football, Cook replied: “I was delighted to be back in.

“Wembley is the place you want to be playing. It is a great arena and it was a great occasion, it was just a shame we didn’t get the result.

“I am pleased to be back in the side. Now it’s up to me to stay in this team.

“Playing games of football sometimes gets taken for granted. Ultimately, it’s our job to perform whatever stage you play at.”

Reflecting more generally on the performance, Cook added: “I thought that arguably we deserved a result. We made some good chances and kept them at bay.

“Conceding two minutes into the second half was hard to take. It is difficult to criticise because we gave everything and showed a lot of character. But it wasn’t enough.”