Atsu's Bournemouth in injury crisis

Bournemouth just can’t catch a break at the moment.

Eddie Howe’s side have won two league games this season but injuries have ripped their side apart.

First, Christian Atsu, 2015 African Cup of Nations best player, is yet to make his English Premier League debut after picking up an injury during the side’s pre-season friendly win over Yeovil Town in July.

PFA fans’ Championship player of the year, Harry Arter, was also sidelined with a hip injury in the summer, and is still yet to make his Premier League debut.

Then Max Gradel, who Bournemouth splashed £7million on in the summer, damaged his cruciate ligaments against Leicester, ruling him out for at least six months.

In the same game record signing Tyrone Mings suffered a similar injury and could be out for a year.

Mings picked up the injury just six minutes into his debut after coming on at half-time for an injured Charlie Daniels.

The bad luck didn’t end there as top scorer Callum Wilson became the third player to damage cruciate ligaments, which will see him sidelined for a minimum six months

Now captain Tommy Elphick has played his last game of the year after being ruled out with an ankle injury.

You wouldn’t blame Howe for wrapping his players in cotton wool when they travel to Man City this weekend.