Bournemouth face missing captain Steve Cook over the Christmas period with a fractured wrist.

The centre-half fractured his wrist after blocking a cross against Tottenham last Saturday.

And having yesterday consulted a specialist, the Hastings-born star will be required to go under the knife.

Asked about Cook following today's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, Howe told the Daily Echo: “He is going to have an operation on his hand.

“He is going to be out for a number of weeks."