MANAGER Eddie Howe believes Joshua King’s attributes could make him the most natural candidate to spearhead Cherries’ attack in the absence of Callum Wilson.

King initially struggled for consistency following his summer switch from Blackburn Rovers and shared the number-10 duties with Lee Tomlin in the Premier League.

But the 23-year-old, omitted from the latest Norway squad, impressed when leading the line after coming off the bench at Southampton and had his best game in a Cherries shirt in the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle six days ago.

Howe has thrown down the gauntlet to his squad to “nail down certain positions” in the absence of so many key men and is hoping King could be among them.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I think Joshua gives us that pace up front which Callum had.

“It is no secret we are still searching for a balance that suits our players. I hope I am not still saying that in two or three months’ time because we are aware we have to find the solutions quite quickly, meaning we can defend games well and look solid while still carrying a credible goal threat.

“We are working towards that in training and, certainly, when individuals get their chance, I hope they take them. We are waiting for people to really nail down certain positions and that is down to the individuals to grab that chance with both hands.”

Asked whether he felt King, whose £1million fee was determined by a tribunal, had done that recently, Howe said: “I do. He has impacted how we hoped he would, worked hard, run the channels and made himself a nuisance to centre-halves.

“Junior Stanislas has had the same effect. I think both players have made a really positive difference to us and they are going to have to produce consistent performances to stay in the frame. We hope we have the answers internally and that the team will look better with the changes made.”

Put to him that Cherries seemed more used to playing into a striker like King, Howe said: “I do agree and that is not a criticism of Glenn (Murray), who is an outstanding player in his own right, but the lads have been used to having a quick number nine.

“I think when the team has adapted to playing a certain way, it is difficult to then change but Glenn has had a couple of good games for us and is a really useful player to have. It is up to us to adapt individually to the new players in the team. No one player is going to be like for like, they all have different strengths so it is up to us to find the right path to move forward.”