Eddie Howe is still as motivated as ever to go on a fairytale cup run with Bournemouth.

The Cherries boss knows the Premier League will always be a priority.

But it does not mean that he is willing to forego success in the Carabao Cup.

He told the Daily Echo: "For me, the tournaments haven't lost any of their magic. They are great formats and they are all unique in how they are put together.

"That is the beauty of cup competitions. It's on the night. The winner stays in and the loser goes out. That in itself is part of the magic of the cup competitions – it's do or die.

"We love the competitions. The challenge is that because the Premier League is so huge, it's about balancing those competitions and trying to progress while maintaining your league form. It's a difficult balance."

Bournemouth face off against Blackburn in the third round on Tuesday night.