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Team news: Latest on King and Fraser

Written by Iain Pearce

Eddie Howe has said that there will be late decisions made on attacking duo Ryan Fraser and Joshua King for the game with Southampton.

Fraser pulled out of the Scotland squad during the international break, with the Bournemouth manager speaking about the 24-year-old's fitness during his pre-match press conference.

"We'll have to see with Ryan," said the Cherries manager. "He's been carrying a hamstring injury for a few weeks, we'll have to see and make a late decision on him, but he's certainly a doubt."

Striker King did go away with Norway over the last week or so, but returned to Dorset with an injury of his own.

Howe gave further details: "I wouldn't say he's 100%, he's picked up an ankle injury and he's not trained with us. We'll see if he goes out [on Friday] and then we'll make a decision on him.

"Sometimes it's only after a game that you feel the repercussions of an injury like this, but his ankle's swollen up and we're looking at him carefully.

"We don't want this injury to stop his momentum with us so we're hopeful he'll be fit."

The football-free weekend gave the club's coaching staff the ability to work with the players not heading off on international duty, with the manager enjoying the opportunity to work with the remaining squad members.

"We always find the breaks very useful," explained Howe. "We've worked the squad hard and done some team-building exercises and we now look to come back as a better team."