AFC Bournemouth V Stoke at Vitality Stadium: LIVE

13 February 2016 08:57
AFC Bournemouth V Stoke - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.

Eddie Howe chooses to look forward with Benik Afobe, instead of backwards

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has played down Benik Afobe's heated exchange with his former club Wolves, insisting he has no problem with the striker's attitude.

Afobe, who joined the Cherries on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Wanderers last month and has already scored three goals for his new side, took to Twitter on Thursday to label criticism from senior figures at his previous club "shocking and very hurtful".

Wolves' head of recruitment Kevin Thirlwell accused Afobe of not trying and chief executive Jez Moxey claimed he did not want to play for the club, despite the fact the player scored 22 goals - including 10 in the first half of this season - in 46 Championship appearances during his year with the Molineux club.

Afobe added: "Some people at Wolves are hanging me out to dry to save their own backs but I won't let my reputation be tarnished."

Howe, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Stoke, said he was not concerned about the row, and was pleased with how the player had settled in.

"I think from our perspective we are only concerned about the future and not the past," the 38-year-old said.

"I think what happened with Wolves is really their relationship - I don't think it has anything to do with us.

"When signing Benik, I think we acted in the right way and we are delighted to get the player - and he has started very well for us.

"With Benik I would rather talk about how well he has done and the future and I think Benik is the same."

He added: "I have no problem with Benik's attitude. You can only react with people as you see fit.

"You cannot look back. He has come in, he has a really good work ethic, a really good temperament to the games and I have to say there are positive signs for the future."

The Cherries on Saturday face a Stoke side who have lost their last three Premier League games, but Howe does not believe that will make them any easier to beat.

"I just think it is the Premier League," he said. "Watching their games, there has been very little between them and the other sides but they have had a couple of disappointing results.

"They have got very dangerous individuals that we need to be aware of. They have quality in their team, so we expect a very difficult test.

"I think (Stoke manager Mark Hughes) has done a really good job when you consider he has changed their way of playing and that is a very difficult thing to do and get results, so I think he deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done. The players he has recruited, he has made them very strong."

Forward Max Gradel - out since August with a knee injury - resumed training with the Cherries this week, but he still has a way to go before a first-team return.

Meanwhile, Stoke boss Hughes wants to see both greater defensive discipline and more risk-taking in attack from his side on Saturday.

Hughes is eager for his 11th-placed side to not let what had been shaping up as a fine season peter out.

And the Welshman - still without Ryan Shawcross for this fixture - said: "We have to learn from what has happened.

"We have to be better defensively - and as a team, not only the back four or five.

"It is a collective thing. We need to improve all aspects of our defensive play."

Stoke have just come through a hectic period, but there is a fortnight between this game and their next, and Hughes said: "You want to go into any break on a high.

"If there is a defeat from your last game, the hangover just drifts and takes a while to dissipate.

"But when you get a positive result, you can benefit in the reverse way.

"So that is our intention. We need to get back on track and we are looking for a good performance, something to build on."

Hughes hopes to have forward Jonathan Walters back for the clash with 15th-placed Bournemouth.

Walters missed the Everton defeat due to a virus, but returned to training on Thursday.

Shawcross (back) is nearing readiness for his return to action but this game comes too soon for him, along with Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Charlie Adam (calf).

Source: PAR