CALLUM Wilson is aiming to create some happy memories of Stoke to replace those he has of leaving the bet365 Stadium with his debut Premier League season in tatters.

It was during Cherries’ visit to the Potteries last September that Wilson’s scintillating start to top-flight life was cruelly halted when he badly injured his right knee.

But the striker – optimistic of returning tomorrow from the hamstring problem that ruled him out of the defeat by Sunderland a fortnight ago – admits he is fed up of talking about the darkest day of his professional career.

Wilson told the Daily Echo: “When people mention going back to Stoke, you do think about it. But when I’m at home, and then before the game, I won’t be thinking about that.

“It will be a case of going there, creating happy memories and leaving with a different outcome. Hopefully, rather than leaving on crutches, I’ll be leaving with three points and a match ball!

“I’ve said I don’t want to talk about my injury anymore. After the Stoke game, people might stop asking me about it.

“I feel fine now, I'm back to normal and hopefully, moving forward, I will remain injury free.”

Wilson had scored five goals in six games prior to rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. He beat the odds to return before the end of last season – starting two games and appearing from the bench in a further four.

After the first three matches of this campaign, however, he still hadn’t added to his Premier League goal tally. But the 24-year-old insists he never doubted he would rediscover his shooting boots, which he did when scoring a decisive goal against West Brom in game four.

“I never doubt myself,” said Wilson. “I think that's what’s helped me get from League One to the Premier League.

“I’ve gone a few games without goals before. If I’m not scoring then it means I'm probably focusing on it too much.

“I just felt like it was time for me to relax, think about other ways I could help the team, work hard and then the goals would come – as they always do for strikers. Then, once you get one, you’ll get two or three.

“I have three goals now – and I’ve gone another couple of games without scoring. But, for me, it’s never in doubt. I always feel I’m going to score when I get the opportunity.”

Stoke twice beat Cherries last season. Wilson sees tomorrow’s clash, then, as a chance for his team to settle that particular score – and steady the ship after successive defeats immediately before the international break.

“We realise in the past three games we haven’t scored many goals or picked up many points," he added.

“This will be a very tight game. We struggled against them last season and they’ve just hit a bit of form. We have to play our own game, then hopefully the result will take care of itself.”