EDDIE Howe remained tight-lipped on whether striker Jermain Defoe would return to Cherries’ squad for tomorrow’s home clash with Newcastle United.

The England international has been training for the past week after overcoming a fractured ankle sustained during the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea in December.

Having taken part in the club’s warm-weather training camp in Portugal, the 35-year-old has not been ruled out of a return against the Magpies by Howe.

The Cherries boss told the Daily Echo: “He has trained for about a week, so I have to make a decision on whether I think he is ready to play.

“I think every professional player is keen to get back on the pitch if they have been injured and Jermain will be no different. He is very enthusiastic and a great personality, so he will be keen.

"He is a natural goalscorer. Given the goals he has scored in his career, naturally it is going to give the squad a lift to see him back with us.”

Defoe’s record against Newcastle stands at eight goals in 23 games in all competitions – including two in three as a Sunderland player in the Tyne–Wear derby.

He scored three times for Cherries this season before his injury setback, including a dazzling double at Crystal Palace – the second of which earned him the Premier League goal-of-the-month award for December.

“I think we were beginning to see the very best of Jermain,” added Howe.

“He was getting to understand how we play and what we expect from him in his position. I trust that he could pick it up very quickly again.

“I don’t think Jermain ever needs any incentive to want to score, I think it has always been there in him.

“He has that goalscorer’s mentality and even in training you see it. If he hasn’t come off the training pitch having scored, he is disappointed.”

Cherries are 10th in the Premier League table, five points above the bottom three.

Howe added: “There are some big games to come and what we can’t do is fall into a trap of complacency.

“Although the table in terms of our league position looks good, the gap of points between us and the teams below isn’t big.

“There’s a whole host of teams which are congested. We still have a lot of work to do and I am under no illusions we have to deliver.”

Back injury victim Tyrone Mings remains a long-term absentee and is receiving treatment abroad.

Mings has made three appearances this season, his latest coming in the Dorset club’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September.