BOSS Eddie Howe described as “really important” the return of Steve Cook from injury and added: “We are going to need him at his very best in these last few games.”

The commanding centre-half made his comeback from a hamstring problem after coming off the bench to replace the injured Nathan Ake in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Leicester.

Cook is expected to feature when Howe’s men make the trip to Manchester City in the Premier League tomorrow (6pm).

Asked how important Cook’s return had been against the Foxes, Howe said: “Really, really important. Very fortunate to bring on a player of that experience and that calibre.

“Cookie’s had his own injury issues and worries. He had a major hamstring operation just before lockdown and then he just felt some discomfort in that hamstring, so we didn’t want to play him unless there was an absolute emergency.

“That emergency happened with Nathan going off. He came on and I thought he was absolutely brilliant for us. Really contributed to that second-half performance, really led the team well vocally.

“An inspirational figure and we are going to need him at his very best in these last few games.”