BOSS Scott Parker believes “ruthless” Dominic Solanke will relish another crack at Premier League football and insisted: “The boy knows where he needs to get to.”

The Cherries striker, who this week agreed a contract extension until 2026 with the Dorset club, suffered a difficult time during his first stint as a top-flight player.

Signed by Cherries from Liverpool for an initial £17.5million in January 2019, Solanke’s current Premier League record stands at 63 appearances with four goals across both clubs – a lot of those games coming from the substitutes bench.

But now he is the main spearhead of Cherries’ second top-flight spell, having scored 44 goals in 85 Championship games over the past two seasons, Parker believes England international Solanke will embrace making the step up.

Asked whether coming back with a point to prove in the Premier League may fuel the striker, Parker said: “I hope so. I think that’s probably the world we are in.

“If you don’t score in 10 games then it’s instantly – you are not good enough for the Premier League level.

“But I’d like to think Dom is probably a lot older the last time he was playing (in the Premier League). He’s two or three years on from that.

“He has come off a big season last year. He has got the attributes of a top nine, in terms of his physical attributes in and out of possession. A very good finisher.

“But, of course, the levels have gone up.

“There is a big challenge for him, along with everyone else but I’d like to think, I have no doubt that Dom’s the sort of character that is relishing this opportunity and going to embrace it really.”

Last time Cherries were in the top flight, Solanke played second fiddle to the likes of Callum Wilson and Joshua King.

But now he has taken centre-stage on the south coast, Parker believes he sees a ruthless nature in Solanke’s character.

“He is very shy. He’s got personality on the pitch, he’s got personality every day in training,” said the head coach.

“Everyone is a bit different, some people are more outgoing and exude that off the pitch as well – you can take an instant understanding to them.

“Probably Dom is not that guy but he is a ruthless guy. He is very channelled, he is ruthless in everything, single-minded.

“The boy knows where he needs to get to. He knows what he wants to get to really. He is driven and that definitely gives him a chance.”

Cherries open their Premier League campaign with a home clash against Aston Villa at Vitality Stadium tomorrow (3pm).