EDDIE Howe insists Cherries are trying to find an explanation for their injury-ravaged season.

Howe was without nine members of his first-team squad for the 5-3 final-day defeat at Crystal Palace due to various short-term and long-term complaints.

Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels, Lewis Cook (all knee) and Junior Stanislas (hamstring) are at different stages of their respective recoveries after operations.

Meanwhile, Diego Rico, David Brooks (both ankle), Dan Gosling, Andrew Surman (both calf) and Dominic Solanke (hamstring) missed the final weeks of the Dorset club's fourth top-flight campaign.

The Cherries boss said all areas would be assessed in the off-season, with the best people possible looking into the situation.

Asked if the injury record would be reviewed over the summer, Howe told the Daily Echo: "Of course. We will be sitting down and doing a full review of everything that we have delivered.

"We have had experts come in and look at our training pitches to see if they have made a difference.

"We are trying to find the reasons why we have suffered so many this season."