CALLUM Wilson stepped up his expected return to first-team football with a 32-minute hat-trick in Cherries' 4-2 Central League win at Southend United.

The frontman, who has now made three outings since his return from a serious knee injury, was in fine form for Carl Fletcher's men.

Southend took the lead midway through the first half when Harry Phillips's corner was nodded home by Norman Wabo.

But eight minutes before the break Tyler Cordner netted in similar fashion, powering a header into the net from a Kyle Taylor corner.

Wilson got the first of his goals shortly after the restart when he pounced after Connor Mahoney's effort was parried.

Renei Batlokwa's fine pass allowed Phillips to level but after that matters went downhill for the hosts.

First, Wilson was dragged down in the box and he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick, firing into the bottom-left corner.

With five minutes left and following good work from Taylor and Antonio Diaz, Wilson tapped in his third.

Earlier this week, first-team boss Eddie Howe said Wilson was still "some way off" a return to Premier League action.

Cherries: Holmes, Seaman, Morrison (Gillela, 86), Vincent, Hobson, Cordner, Mahoney, Ofoborh, Wilson, Ndjoli (Diaz, 75), Taylor. Unused subs: Stewart, Boote.