Howe's injury update on Isak, Trippier, Joelinton and Gordon ahead of Leicester trip
Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media this morning, offering an update on injuries and availability ahead of Monday's trip to Leicester.
Alexander Isak was taken off just after the hour mark in Wednesday's win over Brentford with discomfort in his groin, while Kieran Trippier also had a groin complaint which saw him make way in the 89th minute.
Here's what the boss had had to say on both, along with a mixed update on Joelinton and Anthony Gordon:
Howe on Isak, Trippier and Joelinton
Eddie Howe is hopeful both Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier will be OK for Monday's trip to Leicester City.
Both are 'niggles' not big injuries, suggesting they have a real chance of making the game, but both will be assessed today after the players were given a day off yesterday.
Discussing the pair's fitness, Howe said: "We'll wait and see today. I'll see them for the first time. Hopefully they are feeling OK. We don't think we've got any big injuries from Wednesday, just a couple of niggles. Let's wait and see."
On Isak he added: "He became aware of it (groin issue) in the warm up before the Brentford game. He felt something but felt he could play; now we've got to make sure he's OK for Leicester. We think it's a minor issue that will go away quite quickly.
Joelinton is one of those who is carrying a 'niggle' after discomfort in his knee in midweek, but Howe will manage him carefully over the weekend and expects the Brazilian to declare himself fit for Leicester.
Gordon still struggling
Anthony Gordon is back from a three-game ban but it sounds like he's still struggling from a "really, really bad knock" picked up with England.
Howe revealed that he's "still not 100%" and is managing the pain, meaning he's yet to rejoin the group and has trained on his own so far this week.
Asked if he'd trained with the group, Howe said: "Not yet. He's still recovering from the really, really bad knock. He's still got huge bruising on his leg. He's done individual training and isn't feeling pain free. He's still not 100%."
With that and Harvey Barnes' improved displays in mind, it feels likely that our wide men stay the same on Monday, unless Gordon's situation improves considerably over the weekend.
