Bournemouth go into tomorrow night's Premier League clash with West Ham fully refreshed and raring to go - having played a 'B'-team against Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Making no secret of where his immediate priorities lie, manager Eddie Howe featured no less than TEN players who featured for Bournemouth's Under 21s five days previously in the Cherries' 2-1 third round win at St Andrews.Yet he insisted that his selection process did not "devalue" the competition. "We're desperate to progress and we're desperate to win," he said. "We have rotated squads in previous years and our record has been good.
"The philosophy won't change and we'll look at giving some game time to others, as we have to manage the squad well at this period of the year."
In addition to having rested his entire first XI at Birmingham, Howe also welcomes new £10million signing Benik Afobe to his squad. The former Arsenal youngster, signed from Wolves at the weekend would have featured against West Ham on Saturday had his impending move to Dean Court not been on the cards.
West Ham's 1-0 win over the Championship club was a game in which Slaven Bilic was forced to utilise the likes of Andy Carroll and Dimitri Payet who, like tomorrow night's opponents, would have been rested had the Hammers not required a late goal to see off the challenge of the Wanderers.
However the manager praised those who came into the team and grabbed their opportunity - such as match-winner Jelavic. "All the coaches and players are extremely happy for Jela," he said.
"He is really respected and adored at the club because his work rate during every training session and his professionalism on and off the pitch is outstanding. His relationship with all the players is great."
Looking Ahead: Match Facts
* West Ham have lost just twice in the Premier League since losing 4-3 at home to Bournemouth last August.
* Bournemouth's hat-trick hero from the previous meeting, Callum Wilson, is unavailable due to injury.
* The last win on the road for West Ham came in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace in mid-October - since when Bilic's side have drawn three (at Man Utd, Swansea and Aston Villa) and lost two (Watford, Tottenham).
* The hosts go into the game unbeaten at home since the beginning of November, having beaten Man Utd and drawn with Everton and Crystal Palace since.
* West Ham currently boast one of the meanest defensive records in the league, having conceded just three goals in their last eight Premeir League matches.
* Former Hammer Junior Stanislas is enjoying his most productive season yet, having scored five times in 12 starts for the Cherries so far this season.
* West Ham have produced more defensive blocks than any other Premier League side so far this season - 102 altogether.
* New signing Benik Afobe - who was born in Leyton, just a few miles from Upton Park - has averaged a goal every two games this year, having scored 22 goals for Wolves since moving to Molineux in January 2015.
* Dimitri Payet is rated as the Premier League's seventh best player this season so far by whoscored.com (average match rating of 7.59).
* Bournemouth go into the game fourth in the current form table (based on the last six Premier League fixtures); West Ham are close behind in seventh.
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