MANAGER Eddie Howe has welcomed increased media coverage of Cherries’ exploits.

Howe and his players have come under the spotlight in recent weeks following a memorable period in the Dorset club’s history.

Cherries’ 8-0 victory at Birmingham – a club record – started the ball rolling after it had emerged it was the biggest post-war win in the second flight of the Football League.

It also came hot on the heels of Southampton thumping Sunderland by the same scoreline in the Premier League as the two clubs put south coast football on the map.

Cherries then gained widespread national acclaim after they had dumped out Premier League West Brom to book a place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

It saw them set up a last-eight date with Liverpool – which will see Howe’s team make a third appearance of the season in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Howe and striker Callum Wilson were in the news last week when they were named Championship manager and player of the month for October, respectively.

And while Howe says the added media attention can only benefit the club, he also admits he would rather talk about his players than himself. He told the Daily Echo: “I personally never crave media attention. I know it comes with the territory but it can be very time-consuming.

“There isn’t anything positive I can use to help the team and my job is all about trying to make sure the players perform to their full potential. I don’t really want my time taken up with things which aren’t of benefit to the team or the players.

“As long as anything I am asked to do does not get in the way of that then that is fine but I would much rather be on the training pitch improving the players.

“Saying that, I would do anything to promote my players because they are the ones who deserve to be in the spotlight. I would do whatever was asked of me to promote this club and show how it is continuing to grow providing it did not compromise my job.

"As far as I’m concerned, it is not about me, it is about the group of players and what they achieve on the pitch.”