AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City - Howe: Bournemouth have become better team

Posted Friday, April 01, 2016 by PA

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes his side have improved greatly since they last faced Manchester City in the Premier League.

The Cherries were hammered 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium in October, and Howe is hoping his players will show the progress they have made when the sides go head to head again on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium.

"I think naturally we have moved on, hopefully for the better but that will be tested in the performance," said the 38-year-old, whose team head into the weekend in 13th place - 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

"That game was a difficult one for us. We conceded very early and when you go away it does make it more difficult.

"The key thing is we learned from that and we have become a better team for the experience.

"We still feel as though we need results and points. I don't think we can afford to step off, and we will try and deliver."

Bournemouth players headed to Dubai for a training camp and a spot of relaxation following the defeat at Tottenham on March 20, and it proved a welcome break from the gruelling Premier League programme.

"I enjoy the international breaks because it gives you a chance to train," Howe said.

"We have a mixture of giving them a rest - it's been a long season, a tough season - and then (working) on the tactical side (which) we have not shied away from.

"We had a break in Dubai which was good for the players so hopefully we will come back refreshed.

"It's a long season and the weather is changeable and difficult at times, so it is nice to take them to a different environment."

One of the players who benefited from the trip to Dubai was long-term absentee Tyrone Mings. The defender was taken off just six minutes into his debut in August and has since suffered a setback in his rehabilitation.

Howe said: "(Mings) has had a slight setback, nothing major. When he suffered the injury we were looking at between nine and 12 months, and it's looking more like the 12."

Striker Joshua King and midfielder Harry Arter are doubts for Bournemouth.

King is suffering from a hamstring injury and Arter has an Achilles problem after being brought off in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham before the international break which meant he had to pull out of playing for the Republic of Ireland.

Long-term absentee Callum Wilson (knee) has rejoined training.

Manchester City will be without key trio Joe Hart (calf), Vincent Kompany (calf) and Yaya Toure (knee) for the Bournemouth game.

However, midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri are both fit and back in contention.

De Bruyne has been out since suffering knee ligament damage and a sprained ankle in January while Nasri has not played since the visit of the Cherries last October after undergoing thigh muscle surgery.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: "It is two months that Kevin couldn't play but I saw him work this week without any problems.

"The same for Samir Nasri. He had a very long injury, very unexpected. Now he has the last part of the season to demonstrate how good a player he is.

"I hope both of them will be very important. Especially at the end of the season, it is important to have fresh players and good players."

Midfielder Fabian Delph (Achilles) and forward Raheem Sterling (groin) are out but centre-back Martin Demichelis remains available despite facing a Football Association charge over alleged betting offences.

City, who have won just one of their last six Premier League games, have fallen off the pace in the title race and been dragged into a battle to hold onto a top-four place.

Pellegrini said: "My mentality is the very big game we have is against Bournemouth.

"It is very important to try to finish as near to the top of the table as we can."