Steve Cook: 'I am coming back to fight for every point we need'

So often a leader in the home side’s ranks for his decade-long stay in Dorset, the 30-year-old centre-back admitted he would have to keep his emotions in check when he faces up against his former employers.

Cook only played four times in all competitions under Scott Parker this season, before departing for Nottingham at the start of January.

Since then, he has helped the Tricky Trees to six wins in eight games, including triumphs against Arsenal and Leicester City in the FA Cup.

But, speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo ahead of his return to Cherries with Forest, Cook admits he, or even his family, will not know how to feel being part of the opposition.

He said: “I asked my kids if they want to go and they don’t! I think they are more worried or nervous about it than myself.

“They’ve only ever known Bournemouth. They were born in the area and they loved watching myself play for Bournemouth.

“It’s a strange one for them. They are only young but they do get it. They felt all the emotions I felt I think and probably more when I was coming up to leaving the club.

“It’s been difficult on them but with it being on Sky and whatnot, they can watch that and enjoy the game themselves.

“I am really excited because I spent a lot of my career down at Bournemouth. I am excited to come back and play against Bournemouth for the first time.

“I don’t know how I am going to feel on the day but at the moment, it is just excitement.

“To be honest, I am loving playing football regularly again. Every game I am coming up to, I’m really looking forward to and am excited.

“I have got to try to approach it as a normal match as much as possible for myself – it’s a big game for our team because we can potentially get back into the play-offs by winning on Friday night.”

Cook played 389 times for Cherries having originally signed on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in October 2011.

So, what does he expect from his ninth fixture in all competitions for Steve Cooper’s side?

“First and foremost it’s going to be a really difficult game,” he said.

“I know how Bournemouth play, I know what they want to do and how well they have been doing, especially recently after picking up, obviously off the back of a bit of bad form.

“I have been telling the players how difficult a game it is and how talented that squad is.

“I am under no illusions, I am not coming back to have a really enjoyable game. I am coming back to fight for every point we need.

“I think that’s going to be the strangest thing - walking to the dressing room and going to the away changing room.

“Seeing the players and staff I have known for a long time and being up against them.

“But I am really looking forward to it.”

Apart from a brief run of games between November and December, Cook found opportunities difficult to come by under Parker in the Championship – having been behind the likes of Gary Cahill, Lloyd Kelly and Chris Mepham in the pecking order.

But now he has started his next chapter, the Hastings-born star insisted he did not have to show the head coach how good a player he could be.

“I was obviously available to leave the club in the summer through different reasons. I didn’t play for a long time,” said the defender.

“I saw a lot of opinions and reasons why I wasn’t playing.

“It was quite interesting to read, some of these reasons why I wasn’t playing!

“Maybe they know more than me, but I don’t have to prove anything. I came back into the (Cherries) team after a while. I think I helped the team when I did play.

“I don’t think I need to show anything to the management staff. I need to try to manage my emotions, myself and try to play as best as I can for my team, rather than the opposition manager and staff.

“It would be silly for me to try to be doing things that aren’t me. I just need to play my game and if it goes well – fantastic.

“If it doesn’t it’s not because I am a good enough player, sometimes these things happen in football.

“There’s nothing to prove, there’s no resentment of me trying to prove to people that I should still be playing for Bournemouth.

“I have got my own opinions on what happened and why it happened and that will stay between me.

“I loved playing for Bournemouth, loved the journey we had been on but now, at 30, I have still got a lot to give and I am really enjoying this new part of my career.”

Of his 20 senior goals scored for Cherries, the two-time promotion winner provided some historic moments.

But should Cook pop up with a goal for Forest against the Dorset outfit, he will try to keep a lid on any emotion flooding out.

Asked whether he would celebrate scoring against Cherries, the centre-half replied: “No, I plan not to. I wouldn’t want to tarnish anything at the club.

“Don’t get me wrong. I have thought an awful lot about what could happen on the day, what won’t happen.

“That’s definitely something that I would try really hard not to do.

“Unless it was a 96th-minute winner, then I think the emotions might get the better of me, but I plan not to do anything too disrespectful for the fans.

“I don’t think they would deserve that from myself.”

He added: “I obviously didn’t get to say goodbye to the fans when I left. The Peterborough game got called off due to COVID, so that was a shame.

“Hopefully it depends on how the game goes for the fans but it will be really enjoyable to come back, give them a wave.

“There is going to be nothing but good feeling around the place and that’s how I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave with that in mind and it’s going to be a nice moment for myself being able to come back to Bournemouth and play.

“During the 90 minutes, I will be fighting against them but Bournemouth hold a big part of my life.

“I still really want them to succeed. I think they are going to go up this year.”