MANAGER Eddie Howe is confident Cherries can “do good things this season” with the players he has at his disposal.

Howe is being tipped to enter the transfer market this month to compensate for the loss of Nathan Ake, whose Vitality Stadium loan stint was cut short by parent club Chelsea last week.

Cherries were beaten 3-1 at Hull on Saturday, their 10th Premier League defeat of the campaign.

But with his side sitting 11th and boasting a healthy nine-point buffer to the bottom three, Howe is bullish about their prospects for the coming months – with or without the addition of fresh blood.

Howe said: “I think if you are a neutral and looking at AFC Bournemouth’s season, you would probably say it has been a great season so far.

“When you are living it every day and you are suffering defeats, it doesn’t feel that way.

“Being realistic with our expectations and what we can achieve has always been important. But I do believe with the players we have, we can do good things this season.”

Cherries host Watford on Saturday before entertaining Crystal Palace at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday, January 31. Both the Hornets and the Eagles are below Cherries in the table.