DOMINIC Solanke’s best chances at clinching the Premier League’s Golden Boot is by continuing being a team player according to AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

With four games remaining in Cherries’ Premier League campaign, Solanke is on 18 goals for the season – two goals behind leading goalscorer Erling Haaland.

The one-time England international’s most prolific top-flight season has already created club history, surpassing Josh King’s 17-goal haul during the 2016/17 season.

Asked if the side were planning to do everything possible to help Solanke to the golden boot, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think it doesn't work when you start thinking in those things.

“And I think Dom knows, whenever he has played thinking more collectively, we are going to play better.

“The team is going to play better and we will have more chances collectively, and he will have more chances individually.

“When you start thinking, ‘I will probably not press today too much because after I will be fresher, to have the better legs for the chances.’

“But you don't have the chances, you have the legs, but you don't have the chances because you have to help us to give you the chances.

“And I think Dom has understood this very well from the beginning, and I hope he continues with the same mentality.

“Obviously if there is a penalty, probably he will take it because he is the taker and it's good that he continues scoring goals.

“But I don't think we have to focus on making Dom score goals because normally it's the opposite of what you obtain.”

Most of the players in race for the top-scorer accolade ply their trades for clubs competing to qualify for the Champions League with Solanke up against goal machine Haaland, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

“For sure, this is an amazing feeling,” Iraola continued.

“Four games until the end of the season, and he is not so far.

“And for sure he's dreaming, ‘if I have an amazing game, I score a couple here and then I can be fighting until the end.

“But I don't think this has to be his mentality.

“He will think ‘if I start Sunday, I have to help my team’, like he has been doing, and I'm sure he will prefer that we win 1-0 and he doesn't score, I'm 100 per cent sure.”

Solanke has 20 goals in all competitions this season in 38 appearances.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool man’s most prolific season came in the Championship during the 2021/22 season, when he scored 30 goals in 47 matches across all competitions.