Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says Jermain Defoe could start against Watford.

Defoe replaced Benik Afobe for the final 26 minutes of the 1-0 Premier League defeat to the Baggies, getting his first match minutes since sustaining a groin problem during the friendly defeat to Valencia at the end of last month.

Howe said: "Even when we didn't play well last year, we created a number of chances in most games, so West Brom was an uncharacteristic, dormant display from us in an attacking sense.

"Of course, then Jermain comes into your thinking, as do other players.

"I think I made clear the reasons why he didn't start. He picked up an injury and had not trained for two weeks in the build up to the game.

"Also, when you take into account he came in a week late from international duty to train with us, that meant his training time was a lot briefer than other players.

"We need to make sure Jermain is able to do himself justice and to play at 100 per cent. He needs to have that training time behind him before we put him in the starting XI."