BEN Pearson believes the appointment of Scott Parker as Cherries boss was "perfect" for him, even if he is facing the toughest pre-season of his professional career to date.

Parker arrived at Cherries last week, after leaving his previous post at Fulham.

The 40-year-old has been putting his new squad through their paces after players returned from their summer break, ahead of the flight to Spain this weekend for a nine-day training camp.

And Pearson, who is already working under his third different manager since joining Cherries in January, is enjoying putting in the hard yards.

Asked how a Parker pre-season compared to any he's faced before, the former Preston North End midfielder told the Daily Echo: "It’s tough!

"I think it’s probably one of the hardest that I’ve had for a long time, probably since back when I was in the youth team (at Manchester United) with a manager called Warren Joyce, who was tough.

"It’s been really good. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the process of getting fit and understanding the new philosophy of how we’re going to play.

"He’s been strict, but he’s been fair. I think all the lads have really enjoyed it."

More than a month passed between Cherries' season coming to a crushing end in the Championship play-off semi-finals and Parker's appointment being confirmed.

But Pearson insists he was not overly concerned by the uncertainty.

"To be honest, I sort of took my mind off football, didn’t really look at anything or get involved in speculation or anything like that," said the 26-year-old.

"I had a feeling that a new manager would come in before pre-season so it was just wait until then. It was probably ideal when the new gaffer came in.

"It gives him a chance to sort of get to know the players and have six good weeks of stamping his authority down and getting the way we play right.

"I’ve really enjoyed it. I think it’s sort of been a breath of fresh air as well as being tough. It’s been hard work, but it’s been enjoyable, which has been the main thing."

Reflecting on the way the season ended at Brentford, Pearson added: "Probably like myself, most of the lads were suffering for a couple of weeks after that.

"It was disappointing the way it happened. The first couple of weeks were tough, just getting over it.

"It was a tough one really because it wasn’t so much that it was out of our hands but it was a tough one to take with the man sent off and the penalty decision. It seems as if everything went against us and there’s not much you can do when that happens.

"It’s not as if we played really bad and got beat by the better side, it was just unfortunate.

"We dust ourselves down, a couple of changes obviously with the manager and a couple of players. It’s just time to refocus and concentrate on the goal."

Having worked under former defenders Jason Tindall, briefly, and Jonathan Woodgate, Pearson will now get the opportunity to learn from a boss who used to ply his trade in the same position as himself.

Central midfielder Parker made more than 300 Premier League appearances during his illustrious playing career, competing for the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham. He also featured in the Champions League and was capped 18 times by England's senior side.

Parker's individual honours included the 2010-11 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award, before being named in the 2011-12 Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year.

Asked what it had been like to be coached by a former England international midfielder, Pearson explained: "It was probably the perfect sort of appointment for me with the gaffer being in my position and having the career he’s had and done well in management up to now.

"It’s always good to have the manager in your position.

"It gives you someone to learn from and you can trust the stuff that they’re saying to you is right because he’s been there and done it.

"It was good that the gaffer came in."

And talking of England, is it finally coming home at Wembley on Sunday?

"I’m probably a bit more confident now after the last game! I still think it’s probably a 50-50 game," said Pearson.

"But I think everything is aligned to us winning it, with it being at home and the draw we’ve had. So I’m confident, yeah."

There will be euphoric scenes across the country if England can see off Italy to clinch the Euro 2020 title, but for Pearson and the rest of the Cherries squad, they will have to watch on from afar.

"I think we’re flying (to Spain) Sunday afternoon, so we’ll probably be watching it over there in the hotel I would have thought!"