EDDIE Howe has vowed not to rush into the transfer market to bring in a replacement for Lewis Cook – and has revealed a positional switch for Nathan Ake is among the options being considered.

Cherries were rocked when midfielder Cook learned he would face six to nine months on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during Tuesday’s win over Huddersfield Town.

Howe’s options in central midfield have narrowed with Dan Gosling out for an indefinite period with a knee problem, while it is understood there is no recall clause in Harry Arter’s loan deal at Cardiff City.

Andrew Surman – who has made five Premier League starts this season – could be recalled for tomorrow’s clash with Liverpool at Vitality Stadium (12.30pm).

Boss Howe said his initial inclination would be to seek answers from within his existing squad, with adaptable Dutchman Ake potentially among those.

The former Chelsea star has featured almost exclusively at centre-half during loan and permanent spells at Cherries but Howe is open to a positional shift as one of a number of in-house solutions.

Asked by the Daily Echo if he could be tempted to delve into the transfer market to find a replacement for Cook next month, Howe said: “It’s the natural thing which everyone will look at and talk about.

“Of course, we are actively looking at every possibility but for me to say we will bring someone in during January because we will be able to find better than the players we have in that position, I would be lying.

“Let’s wait and see and monitor all the possibilities. I always prefer to look inside rather than outside first.

“We have a couple of things we could do in that position. Nathan Ake can play in midfield, Junior Stanislas can play in midfield, David Brooks could possibly play in central midfield and Kyle Taylor is a promising young player, so we have options.”

Cook is tomorrow due to go under the knife before beginning a lengthy process of rehabilitation.

He is almost certain to miss next summer’s European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino, where he had been expected to skipper England.

Put to him that this would be the toughest moment of Cook’s career, Howe said: “To this point, yes. Without a doubt. It’s a big moment for him.

“I’ve got no doubts about his attitude, temperament and ability to recover and come back as good as new.

“But it is always unique, having been there myself. I know he has had injuries before but this is the first time he’s had a serious injury.

“You can become very isolated and very alone. You have to do everything you can to not be in that position and to stay as positive as you can, and then fight your way back.”

Howe added: “You just hope the surgery is complication-free. It’s a pretty routine operation these days.

“If you go back 20 or 30 years, it was almost a career-ending injury. It’s not that way any more with modern science as it is.”