CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe admits he is unsure when winger Matt Ritchie will be in a position to return to training.

Ritchie has been sidelined since the start of pre-season due to a persistent thigh injury and suffered a further setback last week.

The 22-year-old, who was named player of the year in League One last season, netted three times in 17 appearances after joining Cherries from Swindon in January.

Howe said: “Matt had a little setback with his thigh and, although we are hopeful it is nothing serious, we are not sure when he will be training.

“It has been frustrating for him and us and we are all of the same train of thought at the moment.

“He has tried to come back a couple of times and has been able to run, sprint, twist and turn and do everything. But when he tries to pass a ball over a long distance, he has felt a pain in his thigh.

“That has held him back twice now so we have had to re-assess what we are doing with him but are hopeful it will not be too long.”

Howe says defender Charlie Daniels has a “50-50” chance of being fit to return to the squad for Saturday's clash at Huddersfield.

Daniels was substituted during the defeat at Watford a fortnight ago and has been troubled by a heel problem.

Howe said: “He has improved but, whether he has improved enough, we will have to wait and see.”

Winger Mohamed Coulibaly is set to resume training next week after recovering from an Achilles injury, while striker Josh McQuoid is on the comeback trail following his knee problem.

Howe said: “Josh is doing well and has been training with us for a week. He missed most of pre-season so needs a game. He is still not match fit but is injury free.”

Cherries: (from) Allsop, Francis, Cook, Ward, Harte, Fraser, Arter, MacDonald, Pugh, Pitman, Grabban, Thomas, Elphick, O’Kane, Stockley, McDermott, Surman, Hughes, Daniels, Flahavan.

Terriers: (from) Smithies, Hammill, Carroll, Clarke, Gerrard, Lynch, Hogg, Clayton, Norwood, Vaughan, Paterson, Scannell, Ward, Gobern, Stead, Hunt, Woods, Bennett.