EDDIE Howe jumped to the defence of Alexander Isak after the striker fired a blank against Brighton - though admitted his star frontman isn't at his best.

Isak returned to the starting XI after missing two games before the international break with a broken toe and missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock just moments before Danny Wellbeck scored what proved to be the matchwinner.

Isak spurned further opportunities after the break, with the 25-year-old struggling to rediscover his blistering form of last season. He's only scored one goal so far this season.

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Howe, though, insists he saw a lot of good play from Isak against Brighton but says it's understandable that he wasn't at his lethal best after a spell on the sidelines.

Howe said: “I think there are reasons for that. Any kind of injury breaks momentum and I think to expect Alex to have been at his very best today...

“Of course, yes he trained in the build-up to the game, but he hadn't had the depth of training he probably needs for full performance.

“But I thought a lot of his game was very good today. I have no major issue. I thought he played very well out of possession for us."

Howe added: “I don't know if his confidence has been affected. Alex has a very strong belief in himself. I think just the nature of any injury creates a break in his momentum, a break in his training.

“I thought he performed really well today, lots of aspects of his game were very good, but just that last part - which is obviously the most important part - was just slight off.

“But it's great to have him back. I think he made a difference to our general play. I thought our general play, as I said, was really good, thought we were incisive with the ball, progressive with our passing, threatened to overrun them a times, but just didn't get that goal that our dominance deserved, and then of course the game looks different when they score."

Howe doesn't want Isak's struggle for goals this season to play on the striker's mind.

He said: "I think I need to protect all the players. We need them to enter the pitch full of confidence believing they can execute their own strengths in an environment where they're not going to be criticised if they make a mistake.

"I'm a firm believer in that. We've had that here for a long time, we don't take it for granted and we're grateful for the support we get but it's crucial we keep it."