CHERRIES striker Callum Wilson revealed he was relishing the opportunity to play alongside Jermain Defoe.

The 25-year-old continued his comeback from a serious knee injury by netting a 32-minute hat-trick in Cherries' 4-2 Central League win at Southend United on Tuesday.

Having trained with the former Spurs striker since making his comeback, Wilson insisted he had a lot of respect for the England star’s career.

Asked what Defoe had been like to work with, Wilson told the Daily Echo: “He is a nice person. He is down to earth and he has done a lot in his career, so you have respect for him.

“It would be good to play alongside him. We are in it together as strikers, it’s like a department, really.

“You always want to be playing as an individual but you are always rooting for your team-mates to do well when they have been selected, rather than yourself.

“You can learn a lot from him. He has been good in training, which is why the manager has been playing him and Kingy (Joshua King).

“Benik (Afobe) has done well and I am starting to find my feet again.

“I am knocking on the door and am hoping to be back in that first-team squad very soon.”