Tommy Elphick joins Bournemouth casualty list

Tyrone Mings is one of several players in the Bournemouth treatment room

October 14 2015 04:16 PM

Tommy Elphick became the latest addition to Bournemouth's growing list of absentees when he was ruled out for at least the next eight weeks following surgery on an ankle injury.

The captain is one of five first-team regulars Eddie Howe is presently unable to consider for selection. Here, Press Association Sport examines those the Bournemouth manager is missing.

Callum Wilson

The forward had been Bournemouth's most impressive player in a reasonable start to their first ever Premier League season. He had scored five goals in seven games, which included a hat-trick in the 4-3 win at West Ham, but has been ruled out for at least the next six months after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament at Stoke.

Tyrone Mings

The promising Mings lasted just six minutes into his debut against Leicester in August, shortly after becoming the club's record £8million signing, before collapsing with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He is expected to miss the next nine to 12 months and the remainder of the season. Incidentally, he had only come on as a substitute because of another knee injury, albeit far less severe, to fellow left-back Charlie Daniels.

Max Gradel

Winger Gradel, a £7million summer signing, was another to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury and also in the costly 1-1 home draw with Leicester. Like Wilson, he is expected to miss the next six months and may struggle to return this season.

Tommy Elphick

Central defender Elphick travelled to Sweden to visit a specialist known for his work with Zlatan Ibrahamovic, and returned under the impression his ankle problem provided little to worry about. Instead, his discomfort persisted and he has undergone surgery in an attempt to correct it, meaning he will miss at least the next eight weeks, if not longer.

Harry Arter

Arter was a significant figure in Bournemouth earning promotion to the Premier League last season, but a persistent groin problem has so far since kept him from selection. After appearing for Bournemouth's Under-21s on Monday against Colchester, he will soon return, but Howe is understandably reluctant to unnecessarily risk him.