Afobe ignited by Howe heart-to-heart

potent strike pairing of Josh King and Benik Afobe. King scored the goals that downed West Ham last week, while Afobe sealed the points against Swansea with two crucial strikes, although the first was later judged to be an Alfie Mawson own goal.

Afobe has struggled for form since joining Bournemouth for what was then a record fee in January 2016, and he credited Howe for getting him back on track after he lost focus and motivation earlier in the campaign.

“It has been tough,” he said. “I started off well then I got a hamstring injury when we went away in March last year and I didn’t come back the same player so I wrote the season off.

“Then I worked hard in pre-season but I had a little knee injury which set me back and I started the season on the bench. I tried to get myself back in the team but the boys were doing well and I couldn’t really complain.

“I lost my head a bit and didn’t train as hard. I had a heart-to-heart meeting with the manager and ever since then I have concentrated on working my way back.”

Afobe has now started three games in a row for the first time this season. His tidy second-half finish was his fourth goal of the campaign.

For Swansea, this was their second defeat on the bounce, and it leaves them just one place above the relegation zone. Paul Clement now has the international break to prepare his squad for a vital clash with Middlesbrough in two weeks.