EDDIE Howe insists his current selection headache is no bigger than any other week as Cherries prepare to host south coast rivals Brighton tomorrow (5.15pm).

The Cherries squad have given the boss food for thought in the past seven days with a record-breaking 8-0 win over Birmingham in the Championship last Saturday followed by a 2-1 defeat of Premier League West Brom in the League Cup three days later.

Howe made 10 changes for the defeat of the Baggies – with skipper Tommy Elphick the only player retained in the starting XI – and a number of those on show staked a claim for a place against the Seagulls.

However, the Dean Court boss revealed that the quandary he faced was the latest in a long line of selection headaches.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “It’s not just the past seven days, it has been pretty much all season that I have had difficulty picking teams but that’s what you want when you are in my position. You don’t want a team that picks itself.

“It’s great to have so much competition for places and I think we’re getting the best out of the players this way. I think we’ve shown we’ve got a squad strong enough for anyone to come in and perform.

“It’s the nature of the beast that I can only pick a squad of 18. It’s going to be difficult enough picking the 11 and then you’ve got the bench.

"It’s certainly a difficult process and gut feel does come into it sometimes, you’ll just have a feeling that a game will suit a certain player.

“Hopefully, the players understand the position I’m in and know that it’s a long season with plenty of games and that everyone will get an opportunity to play.

“What they have to focus on is waiting for that chance and when it does come, making sure they do enough to stay in the team.”

Howe will make a late decision on whether to include loan keeper Artur Boruc, who returned to parent club Southampton for a scan on a knee injury earlier this week.

Steve Cook and Harry Arter are back in contention for the Sky Sports-televised clash after serving one-match suspensions while midfielder Andrew Surman – cup-tied against West Brom – is available again.

Brighton stopper David Stockdale could come back into the side following a finger injury but right-back Bruno Saltor is doubtful with a groin problem.