EDDIE Howe has admitted to mixed feelings over the international break.

Cherries currently have a string of players in action across the globe with Max Gradel, Joshua King and Artur Boruc potentially earning game time this weekend.

Lewis Cook could play for England under-20s against their counterparts from Brazil at Aggborough on Sunday.

Reflecting generally on the absence of players during the international break, Cherries boss Howe said: “You would rather they were here but you know they are getting good game time elsewhere.

“It means you sometimes can’t work with the team and improve your functionality as a team because the individuals are away.

"But you can certainly improve individuals and work on their games so that they have improved by the time you restart again.”

Asked if long trips for international duty came into his thinking when signing players, Howe said: “It is a consideration, it has to be. At the end of the day, those players are still available for you.

"The only thing would be if they were going so far away and coming back late, you might have to make a decision if they were in peak physical condition to play due to travelling.

"But in the main, they’re just missing the training.”