Howe: Cherries must provide Wilson with better supply

The goals may have dried up for Callum Wilson in recent months but boss Eddie Howe claims the entire Bournemouth team have a duty to provide more chances for the striker.

Wilson has not scored from open play since mid-October, although he has at least netted three penalties in the 12 games since.

The 24-year-old bagged five goals in a four-game spell – including a classy hat-trick against West Ham – towards the beginning of last season, before facing more than six months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.

Having returned at the end of the 2015-16 campaign, the expectation was that, once fully fit, the striker would do some serious damage to the goalscoring charts this term.

Photo credit: Getty Images

He is the Cherries top scorer with six goals but although the hoped-for dominance has not materialised, Howe is adamant the whole squad have to take responsibility for that – not just Wilson.

“Callum is a confident boy and when you see him work every day, his ability is unquestionable,” said Howe.

“From his perspective, he would love to be hitting the net on a more regular basis but I think that’s the challenge and the demands of the Premier League.

“And I think it’s up to us as a team to create more for him. We haven’t always done that this season.

“I think it’s a challenge all-round because ideally you want your strikers and your attacking players scoring regularly.”