SUMMER signing Philip Billing stressed his desire to be ready for Cherries’ Premier League curtain-raiser – despite limited game time in pre-season.

The Danish midfielder last week completed a £15million move to Cherries from Huddersfield Town.

He featured for 60 minutes in his first appearance for the Dorset club against Lyon on Saturday.

Billing had previously been training away from the first team at the Yorkshire club prior to his switch to Cherries.

But he insisted he had been doing everything he could to be in contention for Saturday’s home clash with promoted Sheffield United (3pm).

The 23-year-old told the Daily Echo: “I will be working, doing everything I can to hopefully get myself ready for the first game of the season. It’s up to the gaffer whether he thinks I am ready or not.

“Everyday I was on the grass at Huddersfield, I just did everything I could to give myself a benefit so I could come here fitter.

“I want to be ready for the first game because it’s a big first game and I want to be part of it.

"Obviously a game and training is not the same but I have been working hard these few days.

“I will work my socks off to get fit. I have been doing some WattBike and everything after training. I am doing everything I can.”

As well as putting in the hard yards on the training field, Billing revealed how his new team-mates had welcomed him into Cherries’ squad with open arms.

“It’s like walking into a family, you feel comfortable straight away,” said the Denmark under-21 international.

“All the boys have been very welcoming and good to help with everything off and on the pitch.

“I am just trying to learn everything. There are some rules you have to learn and stuff, so I am just trying to settle in and do my best."