EDDIE Howe is optimistic Dan Gosling will return before the end of the season after a scan shed light on his mystery calf problem.

Midfielder Gosling returned to Cherries' starting line-up against Middlesbrough following a three-game absence but was forced off on the stroke of half-time.

Cherries boss Howe admitted his staff had been "slightly baffled" by the recurring injury after a number of scans showed what appeared to be "no major problem".

However, Gosling travelled to London to undergo an additional scan which revealed further information ahead of tomorrow's trip to Sunderland (3pm).

Howe told the Daily Echo: "Dan had a more detailed scan than was possible here and that found a slight problem with one of the muscles in his calf.

"He will be out this weekend. How long he will be out, we're not sure but we hope to get him back before the end of the season."

Sunderland could be relegated from the Premier League this weekend but Howe is purely focused on his own side.

The boss added: "We need to make sure we build on the Middlesbrough game.

"The biggest thing is making sure we don't relax too much and lose our focus and motivation."