WHEN Sam Vokes left Bournemouth in the summer of 2008 facing the Cherries in the Premier League nine years on seemed an impossible dream.

The then 18-year-old scored 12 goals the season before but couldn't prevent Bournemouth being relegated to League Two, where they would start the following campaign with a 17-point deduction after failing to exit administration through a Company Voluntary Agreement and for being declared insolvent for the second time in as many years.

The Cherries were a club teetering on the brink and Vokes departed for Wolves fearing the worst for them, so to be lining up against them for Burnley at Dean Court today in the Premier League will be a surreal experience for the Welshman, who is thankful for the break Bournemouth offered him as a youngster.

"It was where I started off and I owe a great debt to the club - they gave me my chance in professional football," the 27-year-old said.

"Looking back it's quite strange. Eight years ago when I left them they were minus 17 points in League Two.

"So to see the transformation now is frightening really."

Kevin Bond was the Bournemouth boss when Vokes left the club, and he had made his debut for the club in the same side as Eddie Howe.

Within six months Howe was in the dugout beginning the Cherries' remarkable rise from the brink of going out of existence to the Premier League, as he kept them in the Football League and then steered them to promotion before joining Burnley and bringing Vokes to Turf Moor.

Howe returned to the south coast early in the 2012/13 season and has since guided Bournemouth from League One to the top flight.

"It's unbelievable. I didn't think the day I left I'd be facing them in the Premier League, that's for sure," Vokes said.

"The rise they've had as a club has been huge. Eddie Howe being manager has been a huge part.

"I played alongside him when I made my debut. That was ten years ago or so."

Asked if he thought Bournemouth go out of business when he left the club, Vokes added: "Yes, I think so. It was quite a sad state when I left the club.

"The following season they literally stayed up on the last day of League Two, so obviously starting 17 points behind everyone else was a tough task.

"I was at Wolverhampton at the time and to see the club stay up was great to see, but I would never have imagined them being a Premier League team in six years.

"It's a credit to them down there for the job they've done."

Howe's time at Turf Moor never really worked out, but his departure to return to Bournemouth has turned out to be good for all involved, with Sean Dyche taking over the Clarets and guiding Burnley to the Premier League.

Vokes believes Howe is just a natural fit for the Cherries, but praised the work of both bosses ahead of today's meeting.

"He (Howe) was there all through his playing career, so for him to go into management he was a fans' favourite and it worked for him - promotions from League Two and League One, then to take a club of that size into the Premier League and to establish themselves there has been huge," he said.

"The achievements of the two managers over their time in the Premier League and the Championship is a credit to them, the way they go about their business every day. It shows British managers are doing well.

"I've not worked with Eddie for years now, but with the gaffer here it's all about hard work, respecting each other and how we go about our business every day."

Southampton-born Vokes will be backed by plenty of friends and family this weekend as Burnley look to mathematically secure safety.

And the Clarets hit man believes Bournemouth, who will content a third successive Premier League campaign next year, can act as an example for Burnley.

"I think so. They're a team we looked at at the start of the year, the likes of Bournemouth, Watford, a few teams that have gone up in the last few years and survived," he said.

"They're maybe not the biggest clubs in the league, but to survive is a huge achievement."