JOSH King is determined to prove his worth and earn his chance to start AFC Bournemouth’s first Premier League game of the season — at home to Aston Villa next month.

The former Blackburn Rovers forward turned down a new contract at Ewood Park to make the move to Dorset this summer.

He has already found the net for the Cherries, scoring in last week’s friendly win over Philadelphia Union.

And the 23-year-old is now hoping to cement his place in Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

The frontman said: “It is the most important opportunity of my career.

“My club career has been stop-start and I do not think I would be here without the national team as I have done well for Norway.

“Eddie Howe has given me a chance and I have to prove I am good enough to get in this team. There are some amazing players here who did unbelievably last season.

“It is not going to be easy. Everyone is going to fight for their spot but there is a great team spirit here and I have really enjoyed it.

“Moving here is not just about playing time but also about being coached by the staff, who are so passionate about what they do.

“In my first session I realised that I would really need to focus because standards were so high.

“I am very professional and I like it when coaches set their standards high and you can set a goal to reach them.”

Rovers are still waiting for a tribunal to decide the compensation fee for King.