SOME people are just born to strive for victory, whether that is on a Premier League football pitch with millions watching – or a harmless game of Monopoly between the family.

Lewis Cook admitted he was fuelled by both, despite his football last week being halted by sustaining a serious knee injury.

The 21-year-old revealed in an interview with the club website how playing the famous board game had once caused friction between himself and his partner.

“She said she won but, I won!” he joked.

“I think I’m too competitive. It’s not a bad thing but I’ve needed to channel it. I have always been like that since I was little.”

But it is that desire to succeed – at whatever he does – which will make the Cherries midfielder return better than ever from one of his biggest setbacks.

Unfortunately, and quite clearly, there are no get out of jail free cards when it comes to rupturing your anterior cruciate ligament – no extra chance which means you can remain unscathed.

It was quite remarkable that Cook managed to last 90 minutes against Huddersfield to help his side earn three points at Vitality Stadium, a testament to his desire and commitment to the cause.

When hearing the news that he would miss up to nine months through picking up the injury against the Terriers – Cook must have felt like he was back on the Old Kent Road.

He had signed a fresh four-year deal in the summer and established himself alongside Jefferson Lerma in the middle of Eddie Howe’s midfield.

The York-born ace had even caught the eye of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who tipped him to be a “dark horse” in the division this season.

But like with any game experience, there will now be twists and turns along the way before the former Leeds youngster returns to the Park Lanes and Mayfairs of the Premier League.

Competition aside, the injury was a cruel blow sustained by someone who has already achieved so much.

Last year, Cook became the first England captain since Bobby Moore to lift a World Cup as England under-20s triumphed in South Korea.

He won his first senior cap under Gareth Southgate in March after coming off the bench against Italy in a friendly at Wembley.

But on the subject of international football, Cook only has to look across Cherries’ dressing room at a certain Callum Wilson to know you can come back from a serious knee problem and go on to be even better than before.

The Yorkshireman may miss out on next summer’s European Under-21 Championship with Aidy Boothroyd’s Young Lions, for which he was in line to captain the side in Italy and San Marino.

However, with his operation a success, the road to recovery now begins for the Cherries star.

Ever the professional, one of the first things he did was thank the medical staff who aided him and fans who had wished him well him on Twitter.

There may be a few more board games along the way for the England international during his rehab, but let’s hope he’s back among the Premier League’s high rollers sooner rather than later.