LLOYD Kelly admits his difficult first season in the Premier League has made him even more determined to reach the pinnacle once again.

Kelly has captained Cherries to their longest ever unbeaten start to a league season, currently sitting top of the Championship table after 15 matches.

Scott Parker's men are five points clear of Fulham, and nine ahead of third-placed West Bromwich Albion, looking well-placed so far to return to the top flight.

It would be at the second time of asking if Cherries were to continue their scintillating start, having lost in the play-offs last year as they sought an immediate return back to the Premier League.

Speaking after arriving at Cherries from Bristol City, Kelly could not hide his excitement at getting a chance to mix it with some of the best players in the world on a weekly basis.

However, it turned into a wretched season for the defender. After struggling with injuries before a global pandemic then hit, Kelly's first season at Cherries was one to forget.

Having signed for the club in May 2019, Kelly would have to wait 11 months to actually play a minute of Premier League football, featuring in eight matches in empty stadia during Project Restart.

His tough first season on the south coast was compounded by relegation into the Championship.

But while the 2019-20 campaign was not one Kelly looks back on fondly, the 23-year-old is using it as motivation to ensure this season ends in success.

Bournemouth Echo:

Kelly told the Daily Echo: "The first season when I came in, it was a difficult one. Personally I felt like I had a good season (at Bristol City) going in ahead of that season in the Premier League.

"And obviously I picked up that injury. But I think, looking back on it now, of course you want to play as many games as you can at the highest level, but I feel like it’s made my mentality stronger.

"And this season I know I’ll be working twice as hard to make sure we get to the Premier League for next season.

"I can say the same for everyone. That’s everyone’s fire in the belly. They want to get back to the Premier League and play at the highest level."

Speaking in an interview over the weekend, Cherries striker Jamal Lowe insisted there was "not an ego in sight" within the current squad.

While some players such as new arrival Gary Cahill and Cherries stalwarts Adam Smith, Steve Cook and Junior Stanislas have all spent many years in the Premier League, for much of Parker's group, they are yet to prove themselves consistently in the top flight.

And Kelly believes that common goal of wanting to show they can cut it at the elite level is driving the squad this season.

He explained: "I’d say the same as Jamal. As he said, there’s literally no egos in this team.

"Everyone’s playing their part and doing what they can to make sure they get back to the Premier League for next season. And when there’s no egos, everything is fluid, everyone’s on the same page and we’re working towards the same goal."

Asked if it has taken some time for the squad to get to that place after the club suffered relegation in 2020, Kelly added: "Of course when we got relegated, there were some difficulties.

"Everyone took it a different way and obviously last season we came out in the play-offs.

"So it was difficult. But since Scott Parker has come in and with his team, we’ve all developed that mindset together that we’re all on the same page and we want to achieve something great at the end of the season."