3 things to look out for as AFC Bournemouth visit Middlesbrough

Andrew Surman or Dan Gosling?

Last Saturday, as Bournemouth impressed yet again by holding title hopefuls Tottenham to a goalless draw at Dean Court, one home midfielder dominated the post match talk, Harry Arter.

His all action style and almost superhuman work-rate had Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp declare that Arter’s performance was the best from any midfielder in the Premier League this year. Raised eyebrows? Just ask Victor Wanyama.

Arter was also in the game’s flashpoint as he was the victim of a questionable elbow from visiting substitute Moussa Sissoko. Despite appearing to be in full view of referee Craig Pawson, no red card was forthcoming, which left Arter incensed.

After the game, and despite the evidence being compelling against Sissoko, Arter said that he had received an apology from the former Newcastle United man and he hoped that no retrospective punishment would be forthcoming.

Unsurprisingly, Sissoko was charged and subsequently banned for three games to compound a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham, whose magnificent midfield was thoroughly nullified by Arter and Bournemouth’s other engine room incumbent, Dan Gosling.

Dan who? Remember him, the young Everton midfielder who dumped Merseyside rivals Liverpool out the Cup in 2009, but ITV cut the live coverage to an advert break?

Well, it’s fair to say Gosling’s career, since leaving Goodison Park under a cloud hasn’t progressed at the rate many expected.

That said, after a turbulent spell at Newcastle, Gosling has been an integral part of Bournemouth’s rapid rise over the past three seasons, although displacing Arter and Andrew Surman, Eddie Howe’s preferred midfield two has been hard, but when chances have arisen, Gosling has been stellar in performance and was superb against Spurs.

With this in mind, Bournemouth chief Howe has a problem: Gosling or Surman for Saturday’s trip to Teeside to renew acquaintances with Middlesbrough and their Spanish manager Aitor Karanka?

The smart money, and mine too, would be on an instant return for Surman, if he has shaken off the effects of a sickness bug. The South African-born midfielder has been Bournemouth’s unsung hero since Howe rescued him from his Norwich nightmare in 2013, initially on loan and then permanently 12 months later.

It’s no coincidence that when the Cherries play well, Surman is often a stand out performer and yet some fans still don’t believe him to warrant an automatic place. To those doubters, I can assure you that six Surman is almost always the first name on Bournemouth’s teamsheet.

He is held in the highest esteem possible by Howe and if you can, like I have on numerous occasions, just watch Surman in a match and him only for a few minutes. He always has space and time on the ball – the sign of a good player – and then the pass is often crisp, easy and pressure relieving.

It would be a surprise then if Surman didn’t return to the starting line-up at the Riverside, although Gosling would also be incredibly unlucky to miss out too. A sign, if any was needed, just how go Bournemouth’s squad is now, especially in midfield.