Bournemouth's Injury Blow Ahead of London Test
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is facing a selection headache ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against West Ham, with key attacker Antoine Semenyo a major doubt for the match.
The 25-year-old winger, who has been in sensational form this season, aggravated a pre-existing ligament sprain in his left ankle while playing for Ghana during the international break.
Ghana Duty Ends in Disappointment
Semenyo started for Ghana in their 2-0 defeat to Japan last Friday but was forced off the pitch after just 56 minutes. The injury was significant enough for him to subsequently withdraw from the squad entirely, missing Ghana's follow-up 1-0 loss to South Korea on Tuesday.
This setback comes at an inconvenient time for both player and club. Semenyo has been a standout performer for the Cherries this campaign, contributing six goals and three assists in his 11 Premier League appearances. His potential absence is a significant blow for a side sitting ninth in the table and looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Iraola's Injury Update Reveals Wider Crisis
Addressing the media on Friday, Andoni Iraola clarified the nature of Semenyo's issue, distinguishing it from fresh muscular problems suffered by other players. "Antoine is different," Iraola stated. "Justin and Ben have muscle injuries and Antoine’s was not something new that happened when he was there. He was already dealing with an ankle injury. I cannot tell you if he’s going to play tomorrow or not. We will have to see."
The manager's comments painted a picture of a challenging international period for the south coast club. The Cherries will definitely be without Justin Kluivert due to a hip problem.
More concerningly, young talent Ben Gannon-Doak suffered a severe hamstring injury while playing for Scotland. Iraola confirmed the injury is "a bad one" and that the winger "will be out for some months." The club was awaiting a surgical consultation to decide on the best course of treatment.
"We have had a bad international break," Iraola admitted, summing up the mood. The manager also noted that Adam Smith and Tyler Adams have been in concussion protocol but are available for selection, though their training has been affected.
All eyes will now be on the fitness of Antoine Semenyo as Bournemouth prepare to host David Moyes's West Ham at the Vitality Stadium.
