EDDIE Howe’s Cherries squad have been rewarded for getting their promotion push back on track with a working trip to Dubai.

Howe’s team are tonight due to fly from Heathrow to the United Arab Emirates for a five-day training camp in the sun.

Earlier today, Cherries returned to the top of the Championship following an emphatic 3-0 win over fellow high-fliers Middlesbrough at Dean Court.

Penalties from Yann Kermorgant and Brett Pitman sandwiched a stunning strike from Harry Arter as Cherries extended to six games their recent unbeaten run.

Cherries dropped to fourth last month after back-to-back draws against Derby and Huddersfield were followed by successive defeats at the hands of Brentford and Nottingham Forest.

Boss Howe told the Daily Echo: “When we were having an indifferent spell of results, we decided to try to refocus the players’ minds. We wanted them to look at the bigger picture and set them a points target which they hit.

“We said we would come up with a reward if they were to hit the target. It was an incentive to break the mind-set of the spell we were in. With the international break looming, we decided it would be good to take them away for a few days for a change of scenery and in a different atmosphere.

“The only downside for me is that there will be players going on international duty who won’t be able to come. For the others, it will be a really good chance for us to do some training and have them together at this key stage of the season.

“It is not a holiday by any stretch of the imagination and I certainly don’t want to give that impression. We will be back later this week so it will not affect our preparation for Ipswich which will be exactly the same.

“It is a long season and the players have been so good in everything they have delivered for us. It is just nice to be able to reward them at this time.”