DEFENDER Steve Cook is targeting a place alongside some Cherries greats as he prepares to enter the club’s hall of fame.

Cook will draw level with Warren Cummings in 20th on the list of record league appearance-makers should he feature at Newcastle on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has been ever present in the Premier League this season, playing a pivotal role in the club’s best start in the top flight.

A £170,000 signing from Brighton in January 2012, Cook also starred as Eddie Howe's side clinched promotion from League One in 2013 and from the Championship in 2015.

He played every minute of every Premier League game in Cherries’ first season in the top flight and was crowned supporters’ player of the year.

Cook, who is in line to play his 263rd league game for Cherries at St James’s Park, said: “Hopefully, I will keep my place because it would be a special moment.

“It has been a real privilege to represent this club and becoming one of the top 20 appearances-makers would be something to be proud of.

“I just hope I can make many more because I still feel I have a lot of offer so maybe I could hit the top 10 or even the top five.

“I think we are improving as a team and I still have room for improvement as a player. We have started the season well and looked very good in games.

“We have been more resolute with our defending and look a real threat going forward. We look like we can score every time we attack.

“That has come from a lot of hard work behind the scenes and we will continue to do that because we know there are areas we can still improve.”

Cook, who penned a four-year deal in May 2017, netted a dramatic injury-time winner against Newcastle in November last season.

His bullet header saw Cherries register a 1-0 victory and took their points tally to 10 after 11 games – a figure which they have doubled this season despite losing to Manchester United last time out.

Cook added: “We have been really good this season. The first half against United was the best we had played and we lost. But you can’t get too downbeat.

“It was a real shame because we had been unbeaten at home – and still should be. But we will go to Newcastle in a very positive frame of mind.

“It is a big game and we had a great win their last season. If we want to stay in and around where we are in the table then these are the sort of games we have to be winning. But Watford probably felt the same when they went there on Saturday and they got turned over so we will need to be on our guard.”

Asked whether he felt he could overhaul Steve Fletcher’s tally of 628 league games for Cherries, Cook replied: “Hopefully not because it would mean we would still be in the Premier League so I would take being a few off him!”