Bournemouth suffer new injury blow with Tyrone Mings set for a month out

  • Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe confirms Tyrone Mings could be out for a month
  • Mings was nursing a minor back injury but it is worse than the club first thought
  • The Cherries are set to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday 
  • Howe is wary of Everton's forward line despite the Toffees struggling for goals

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe confirmed Tyrone Mings will be out for up to a month as his side prepare to face Everton at the weekend.

The defender, who joined the Cherries from Ipswich in 2015, missed his sides Carabao Cup tie in midweek with a minor back concern but it appears the problem is more substantial.

'Tyrone Mings will miss out this weekend,' Howe told reporters ahead of his side's trip to Everton.

Defender Tyrone Mings could be out of action for up to a month with a back problem

Defender Tyrone Mings could be out of action for up to a month with a back problem

He added: 'Unfortunately, Tyrone has got a back problem. We thought it would be manageable with treatment, unfortunately he'll be out for a period of time.


'He'll see a specialist and it has been recommended that he has a month's rest on the sidelines.

'It will be interesting to see how that rest affects his back, he has pain in one area so hopefully the rest should cure it. With the international break, he could miss three or four games maximum.'

'Apart from Tyrone we're ok, Junior came through the game on Tuesday ok which is a big boost. We don't have any other injury problems.' 

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is wary of Everton's attack despite them losing Romelu Lukaku

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is wary of Everton's attack despite them losing Romelu Lukaku

The Bournemouth boss also insists Everton have lost none of their attacking threat, despite the summer departure of top scorer Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium striker Lukaku hit 25 Premier League goals for the Toffees last season - including four against the Cherries - to earn a big-money move to Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Spaniard Sandro Ramirez were among a host of attacking talent brought into Goodison Park as replacements and Howe, who takes his team to Merseyside on Saturday, believes Ronald Koeman's side will continue to cause problems for opposition defences in Lukaku's absence.

Bournemouth have struggled  so far but won their first points of the season against Brighton

Bournemouth have struggled so far but won their first points of the season against Brighton

Howe said: 'Look at Wayne Rooney, look at his goalscoring record and you're going to say they're less potent an attack, I don't buy that.

'I think the quality that they've recruited, they're a very good football team, they've got some really good footballers in their team.

'I think they're a strong side.'

Former England captain Rooney began the season brightly, scoring twice in his opening two league games after returning to his boyhood club from Manchester United.

He has not found the back of the net in five outings in all competitions since, but Howe is convinced the 31-year-old still has plenty to offer.

'I think he's an outstanding player, I've always been one of his biggest fans,' Howe said.

'Historically, from Manchester United to England, there's no doubt he's been one of the best goalscorers of his generation.

'We are aware that he will be a real threat technically, he'll make them play but also he's lost none of his finishing ability.'

Howe believes Everton striker Wayne Rooney still poses a potent threat

Howe believes Everton striker Wayne Rooney still poses a potent threat

Both Bournemouth and Everton currently reside in the relegation zone after enduring difficult starts to the new campaign.

The Cherries beat Brighton last Friday to register their first points of the season, while Everton, a point better off, are on a four-game winless run in the league following a draw at Manchester City and defeats to Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Howe, whose team also beat the Seagulls in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, feels it is too early to assess the league table.

'My way of thinking is judge everybody sort of halfway through the season, I think that's when you get a proper look at the table and see where people may or may not finish,' Howe added.

'It's far too early to draw conclusions at this stage.

'Naturally, I think when you start a season with a run of defeats, it's probably the worst possible time because you question yourself even more.'