CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe is today due to hold talks with Wes Thomas regarding his immediate future following the end of his loan spell with Blackpool.

Thomas has returned to Dean Court after Cherries politely rejected a request by the Championship outfit to extend his loan stay at Bloomfield Road.

The 25-year-old striker netted three times in nine appearances for the Tangerines and had been expected to make the move permanent during the current transfer window.

However, rather than table a bid for Thomas, Blackpool asked to take him back on a month’s loan and may have been hoping to keep him for the remainder of the season – with Cherries continuing to partly fund his wages.

Howe reluctantly gave Thomas permission to join Blackpool at the end of November after the east Londoner had made it clear he wanted to go, claiming Cherries could not guarantee him first-team football.

Thomas, who has 18 months to run on his existing contract with Cherries, reunited with Michael Appleton at Bloomfield Road after enjoying a fruitful loan spell under him at Portsmouth earlier this season.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, Howe said: “I will sit down with Wes first thing tomorrow and have a chat about how he feels. I will also convey our feelings as a football club and what we think and we will take it from there.

“We have to do what is best for this club. Wes has only got 18 months left on his contract so decisions will have to be made. We will sit down with Wes and see which way he wants to go.”

Howe, who is an admirer of Thomas and welcomed him back following his loan spell at Pompey, added: “His ability as a player has never been in doubt. He is a goalscorer and a very good athlete. He can certainly play so the fact he went to Blackpool and did well was not a surprise.

“I am sure there would have been a lot of other Championships clubs that would have looked at him. We very much need to see where he is and where he wants to be and then take it from there.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Mark Molesley has returned to Dean Court following the expiry of his loan spell with League Two strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

Molesley is expected to rejoin Howe’s squad in training once he has recovered from a minor back problem.

Howe is also pondering whether to allow young defender Jon Meades to extend his loan agreement with AFC Wimbledon. Meades is likely to be given the green light to stay, providing Cherries can have a 24-hour recall.

Josh Wakefield (Dagenham & Redbridge) and Aristide Bassele (Lincoln City) have both returned to Dean Court following their end of their respective loan spells.