Nottingham Forest defender sends 'excited' message ahead of emotional Bournemouth reunion

Steve Cook admits he is feeling "really excited" ahead of Nottingham Forest's Championship clash against Bournemouth on the south coast on Friday night.

The defender represented the Cherries for 10 years between 2012 and 2022 before he made the move to the East Midlands in the January transfer window.

But now, a month later, he is set to travel back to the place where he spent most of his career as a footballer and his children call home.

"I am really excited because I spent a lot of my career down at Bournemouth," Cook told Daily Echo. "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. 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."

While Forest are just outside the Championship play-off zone in seventh place, two points behind sixth-placed Middlesbrough, Bournemouth are second as they target automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

As for Cook, he added: "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.

"[But] 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."