LEWIS Cook insists he will not rush back his return from a serious knee injury.

The Cherries midfielder has been sidelined since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a Premier League clash against Huddersfield in December.

But the former Leeds man, 22, is now closing in on a comeback and took part in pre-season testing with the squad on Saturday.

Cook told afcbTV: "I'm feeling great. It's good to be back.

"I'm running well on the pitch, doing bits with the ball so I feel very strong.

"I didn't think I'd be as fit as I was so that's a massive positive. I enjoyed being in and around the lads doing some of the testing.

"I feel like I'm in a good place and ready to crack on now."

Discussing his schedule during pre-season, Cook added: "It's going to be a little bit different.

"I think it's going to be tailored around me and just slowing easing me back into normal training.

"I've got a bit of a while to go. There's no rush, I'll take my time and make sure when I come back I'm one hundred percent.

"I don't want to come back not fully sharp.

"I've got work to do on that but I'm looking forward to it and I'm on the pitch now, which is the fun part."

Asked how long it could be before he expects to return to first-team action, Cook said: "I don't really want to set a date.

"I'll have the pre-season, see where I'm at and then crack on from there. We'll see."