ANTOINE Semenyo believes his last-gasp winner for Ghana will give him a confidence boost when he returns to Cherries next week, stating: “I needed it.”

With Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola locked at 0-0 in Kumasi, Semenyo was introduced off the bench for the final 20 minutes by new boss Chris Hughton.

Deep into stoppage time, the deadlock was finally broken, Semenyo smashing home his first competitive goal for the Black Stars after a loose ball fell kindly to him in the box.

It marked the 23-year-old’s first goal since netting for former club Bristol City in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on January 21.

That proved to be Semenyo’s final game for the Robins, leaving to join Cherries shortly after for a reported £9million. The forward is yet to find the net for his new club, in six appearances.

Asked how much of a boost ending his two-month wait for a goal will be going forwards, Semenyo said: “It’s obviously a good thing. As a striker, you want to score.

“I haven’t scored in a while, so it’s good for the confidence.

“I know that leading up to the next game and when I go back to club football, I know that I’ve got the confidence through on goal.

“I just have to take that with me. I’m happy with that goal, I needed it. Definitely needed it for the confidence.

“I just have to keep going now and keep building on top of that.”

London-born Semenyo’s father, Larry, formerly played in the Ghanaian Premier League and was in the crowd to see his son grab the dramatic winning goal.

Discussing the notion of becoming a super-sub, Semenyo added: “I always want to be in the starting team.

“If I’m not selected, I make sure when I’m on the bench and I’m coming on, I make sure I’m ready, have warmed up well and am effective for the team.

“Luckily the ball fell to me and I scored, but I always want to be useful, whether I’m starting or on the bench as a goalscorer.”

He added: “When I come on, I know what I need to do. I need to make sure I’m effective for the team and try and get a goal.

“The time was ticking, so we needed to act fast. Luckily it dropped in the box to me, so I can’t complain. Right place, right time.”

Asked if he feels the goal will be enough to earn him a starting spot when Ghana face Angola in the reverse fixture on Monday, Semenyo said: “I can’t answer for that one! I’m just prepared no matter what the circumstances are.

“Whether I start, whether I’m on the bench, it’s the same thing anyway.

“Just make sure I’m ready if I’m on the bench. And then if I start, make sure I provide for the team and get some goals. It doesn’t really make a difference, I’m always ready.”