EDDIE Howe has played down hopes of strengthening Cherries’ attacking options during the upcoming transfer window, stating “I don’t think we’d have the funds to buy a striker in January.”

Options are limited for Howe after Joshua King suffered a hamstring strain whilst on international duty with Norway last week, before Dominic Solanke also picked up an injury whilst warming up during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Wolves.

With Sam Surridge and Jermain Defoe currently out on loan, that leaves Callum Wilson as the only recognised senior centre-forward in the first-team squad, should Solanke be set for a spell on the sidelines alongside King.

But Howe is not expecting to add firepower to his squad when the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day.

He said: “I don’t think we’d have the funds to buy a striker in January.

“Listen, I don’t know, I’ve not spoken to anybody, but if you want to sign a striker that can play in the Premier League, I think you’re going to need a lot of money.”

Solanke was named among the substitutes at the weekend but Howe revealed he was unable to call on the one-time England international as Cherries looked to chase the game in the second half, despite Ryan Fraser carrying a knock.

“Ryan got a dead leg, he was very keen to carry on,” said Howe.

“We obviously didn’t want to take him off so he got through the game. Dominic Solanke injured his hamstring in the warm-up I think at half-time, so we couldn’t put Dominic on.

“We are stretched at the moment, we’ve still got so many injuries.”

Asked if the injury to Solanke looked serious, Howe told the Daily Echo: “I’ve got no idea.

“I only heard about it at half-time, that he just felt his hamstring kicking a ball so I need to see what the situation is.

“He’s done so well as well lately in training, looked really good ¬¬– probably the most impressive he’s been since he’s signed for us and now it looks like we could lose him.”

Trailing 2-0 at half-time and down to 10 men following the dismissal of Simon Francis, the outlook appeared bleak for Cherries against Wolves.

Howe’s men responded and pulled a goal back through Steve Cook, but fell just short of snatching a point with Nathan Ake denied late on by goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

And Howe insists he had no issues with the sense of disappointment at the break.

“There’s no blame to the supporters for being flat after watching that (first half),” he said.

“I was feeling the same as them. We’ve got a great fanbase here which you could see in the second half. They really got behind the team and really made a difference, but I think that comes from us.

“We have to give them something to get into the game with and we did in the second half.

“We showed spirit, determination, fight and with a bit more luck we would’ve got a point from that game.”