JOSHUA KING has been told to think about Bournemouth before his own future.
Manchester United made a £25million bid for the Norwegian striker on deadline day before boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pulled out at the 11th hour.
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King, 28, is poised to return to first-team duty at Sheffield United tomorrow after missing seven games with a hamstring injury.
And Cherries chief Eddie Howe is confident his key marksman is in fighting mood for the relegation battle ahead.
Howe said: “I have no issue, no problem to say that he will give his very, very best.
“It was a difficult couple of days, but a huge compliment and a huge moment for him, to have United come in and express an interest in him.
“He knows we’re in a relegation fight. It’s no time for him to focus on himself, he knows that and is very much a team player.”
Howe revealed he made it clear he will not stand in King’s way if another big club comes calling.
He added: “There can be no thought of individual situations when you’re in the position we’re in, we need everyone pulling in the same direction.
“And if we can do that, then we can reassess in the summer.”
It’s no time for him to focus on himself
Eddie Howe on Josh King
Howe saluted Blades boss Chris Wilder who, like him, earned his managerial stripes in the lower leagues.
Only Liverpool (15) have conceded fewer Prem goals this campaign than United (23), who earned a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in their first top-flight match for 12 years in August.
Howe said: “Chris will be in consideration when I think about Manager of the Year.
“It’s been an incredible performance this season. The way he’s done it, in the style he’s done it, is a little bit different than any other team.
“I admire belief you can do things in a different way.”
Blades’ January reinforcements Panos Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic are vowing to seal futures in the Premier League.
Centre-back Retsos, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, and Dutch ace Zivkovic, loaned from Changchun Yatai, are set to be unveiled in tomorrow’s clash with the Cherries.
Greek international Retsos, 21, revealed: “We are both so glad to be here at such a big club.
“We have only been here one week but we see the team spirit is amazing.”
Zivkovic, 23, added: “I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League — ever since I was a kid watching Match of the Day on TV with my dad.”
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