Bournemouth v Stoke City: Latest team news

The Cherries’ boss believes his side, especially his new recruits, are becoming fitter but Tommy Elphick, who played a game behind closed doors in midweek, will not be back in time to face Stoke.

Max Gradel, who has been out since August with an ACL knee injury came back to training this week but is yet to kick a football and has “a lot of hurdles to overcome” but Howe is confident he will play before the season ends.

Provisional squad: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Smith, Daniels, Pugh, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Afobe, Federici, O’Kane, Distin, Iturbe, Ritchie, Murray, Grabban, King.

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Stoke boss Mark Hughes hopes to have forward Jonathan Walters back for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Bournemouth.

Walters missed the 3-0 loss to Everton last weekend due to a virus, but returned to training on Thursday.

Potters captain Ryan 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).

Provisional squad: Butland, Haugaard, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters, Johnson, Bardsley, Imbula, Whelan, Ireland, Afellay, Shaqiri, Walters, Arnautovic, Bojan, Joselu, Crouch, Diouf, Odemwingie.