EDDIE Howe insists Joshua King has remained “very professional” despite a late move to Manchester United failing to materialise last month.

Speaking to Norwegian outlet TV 2, King admitted he had “some faith” that a return to his former club was on the cards after Cherries turned down an initial bid.

But King remains at Cherries for the remainder of the season and is in contention to start at Burnley tomorrow after recovering from his hamstring injury.

Asked how the striker had reacted since the Man Utd links in January, Howe said: “He’s been very good. We’ve had a couple of conversations.

“He’s very positive, he’s focused on the next run of games that we have. No major problems.

“I’m sure on the outside people may think there was or has been, but no, he’s been very professional and my relationship with him is very strong.”

He added: “I don’t know quite how Josh is thinking.

"You never quite know how the individual player is handling things.

“I think for Josh, the transfer stuff that came out is a huge compliment to him and I would look at it that way.

"I’d take that compliment and then show everybody why (the bid came in for him).”