ONE of the world’s most successful businessmen in Bill Gates once said: “Patience is a key element of success.”

Dominic Solanke had to stay patient to gain starts and goals for Cherries.

But having brought his Sunday best for the crucial visit of Leicester City – he certainly made sure he did the business.

Despite finding the net for England under-21s and in the FA Cup in the meantime, Solanke had to wait a staggering 792 days since scoring for Liverpool against Brighton in the Premier League on May 13, 2018, and his first top-flight goals for Cherries at the weekend.

The frontman admitted the wait was “difficult” – but how important could those goals be in his side’s battle to stay at England’s top tier?

Solanke had been used to scoring important goals at youth level.

He has two FA Youth Cup winner’s medals – and scored three times in two finals for Chelsea.

He also struck on four occasions en route to being named player of the tournament when England under-20s won the World Cup in South Korea back in 2017.

But having netted twice when it mattered so much in Cherries’ 4-1 success over the Foxes – Solanke could not help but show his emotion.

Asked whether he had ever scored more important goals for any club, the 22-year-old told the Daily Echo: “No, definitely not.

“Especially in a time like this where we need goals and we need wins, the goals were definitely really important.

“You could see on the pitch the emotions after each goal. It’s been quite difficult for us recently but it was a big boost.

“Especially in a game like this, it was probably the best time for them to come.

“The first one was to take the lead so that was a big emotion. To go on and get the second one was a delight for me.”

It is fair to say Solanke’s lack of goalscoring exploits in Dorset have drawn critics towards the senior England international.

Signed for a fee believed to be around £17.5million in January 2019, there is always going to be pressure when you move for such a hefty price tag.

The wait between top-flight goals could not have been easy for a striker still so young.

“It hasn’t been nice,” he admitted. “Throughout my career I have scored a lot of goals throughout my younger years.

“So it’s been difficult but it’s good to get the goals. Hopefully I can take that confidence and get a few more.

“In football you always need confidence and getting goals definitely gives you that.”

An abundance of social media posts were written from across the football fraternity congratulating Solanke on his pivotal strikes. But the compliments from boss Eddie Howe were something he appreciated greatly.

Asked whether he would like to dedicate the goals to anyone in particular, the Reading-born youngster said: “Just the family and the manager, probably.

“He’s kept faith in me, put me in the team in an important game and hopefully those goals repaid him. He’s always talking, helping me and working on the pitch with things that can help me in the games.

“He is delighted for me and I am delighted to get a couple of important goals.”

So now he is back firing in Cherries’ bid to beat the Premier League drop – does Solanke believe Howe’s men can kick on from here?

“Of course,” he replied.

“If you look at the history of the club, we’ve beaten the odds a lot of times and hopefully we can do it again.

“We know it’s not going to be easy, especially with a team like Man City next but we need every point we can get at the moment.

“We are going to have to go there and fight to try to get anything we can.”