CHERRIES are set to be without attacking midfielder David Brooks for two to three months after the Wales international was ruled out of action with an ankle injury.

The Daily Echo understands Brooks faces surgery on the problem after limping off after 71 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 pre-season victory over Brentford at Griffin Park.

It means he will miss the Dorset club’s Premier League opener with former club Sheffield United on Saturday, August 10.

Eddie Howe’s squad have suffered a double blow as summer signing Lloyd Kelly is also expected to miss the start of the season with ankle ligament damage.

The England under-21 international, signed from Bristol City for £13million in May, picked up the injury in training on Monday.

The Daily Echo understands there is no fracture and the injury is not as bad as first feared.

As well as Brooks and Kelly, boss Howe is already expected to be missing the likes of Simon Francis, Lewis Cook, Junior Stanislas, Charlie Daniels and Dan Gosling for the start of the new campaign.