PHILIP Billing is eager to make a swift return to the starting XI after revealing a bout of flu ruled him out of the side to face Arsenal on Boxing Day.

Aside from one game where he was suspended, the Dane had started in every Premier League match for Cherries since arriving from Huddersfield Town in the summer.

But that run came to an end against the Gunners, named among the substitutes before being introduced in place of Dan Gosling with 20 minutes to play in the 1-1 draw.

Discussing being left out of the starting XI, Billing told the Daily Echo: “To be fair it was just illness.

“I’d been ill for the (previous) two days so that’s why. I hadn’t been in for two days.

“That’s why (I was on the bench) I think. It was a bit of a cold, a bit of influenza so I stayed away from the squad to not give it to someone else.

“I made the bench and he (Eddie Howe) asked me to come on and if I was 100 per cent. I just came on and worked my hardest and hopefully helped the team and tried to get the last goal and in the end we got one point.

“I feel a little bit better (now). I still have a sore throat and a blocked nose, but my body feels a lot better.”

While Billing was suffering from the Christmas cold, he did at least have some family to keep him company during his first festive season on the south coast.

“My brother and sister are here,” he said.

“I wasn’t feeling too well (on Christmas Day) but they are here with me and came to the game (on Boxing Day) as well.

“Especially when you have this tough programme over here, I haven’t got a lot of time off and a lot of games coming up. I haven’t been able to spend too much time with the family to be honest because of training and away games.

“It’s probably the side people don’t see as a footballer. That’s the kind of things you sacrifice but in the end it’s all worth it.

“This team is unbelievable and we have to get back to winning ways and hopefully we will do that on Saturday (against Brighton).”

He added: “We have such a good squad but right now we underperform.

“I look at the table and obviously we shouldn’t be where we are now because I think our squad is way too talented for that.

“Sometimes it’s like this in football and we stay positive in the team because we know our abilities. I’m sure soon we will turn it around and hopefully go on a good run.”

Cherries are level on 20 points with tomorrow’s opponents Brighton in the table.

And Billing is set for a midfield battle with Aaron Mooy at the Amex, with the pair team-mates at Huddersfield last season.

“He’s a very good player,” said Billing.

“I played with him last season when he came to Huddersfield. He’s a good player.

“Obviously I’ve seen him doing well at Brighton, starting every game, so it’s going to be good to see him again and for the first time play against him.

“I’m looking forward to this game.”