BOSS Kevin Bond has highlighted the pitfalls of trying to blood raw and untried new recruits into the heat of Cherries' League One relegation battle.

Bond, like most of his predecessors, has been facing the uphill task of attempting to keep Cherries competitive while also working within the club's tight financial restrictions.

And with Cherries' cause severely hampered by an acute injury crisis this season, Bond has also been forced to weigh up the pros and cons of turning to youth and loan players.

His dilemma has this week been emphasised following the probable loss of loan stars Marc Wilson and Adam Lallana for Cherries' trip to Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

Wilson is unlikely to extend his stay from Portsmouth for financial reasons, while Southampton teenager Lallana has been added to the casualty list with an ankle injury.

And the pair's expected absence from the Cherries starting line-up leaves Bond with a gaping hole to fill - and with little to fill it - ahead of the Memorial Stadium showdown.

Speaking following training yesterday, Bond said: "We are trying to work with Portsmouth to find a way to get Marc Wilson back but we've had no luck at this moment in time.

"We've also been trying to find replacements, but, for all sorts of reasons, it's proving difficult to get anybody in.

"In an ideal world, I wouldn't want to bring in a lot of loan players because they need to integrate and that takes time. You expect a loan player to come in and mix with the squad straight away and hit the ground running and do the business. But, as anybody would tell you, it can take months, never mind weeks, to integrate a new player.

"We would like to have a settled squad but, clearly, we are unable to do that so I might have to bring in some fresh faces if I am able to. But, under the circumstances, it's really difficult to bring in anybody."

Asked by the Daily Echo whether he may consider turning to youth teamers, Bond replied: "If that's what we have to do then that's what we will do.

"Sam Vokes has figured prominently this season and Josh McQuoid and one or two others have been on the bench.

"Although I am certainly not against it, I do think it is far from ideal to be blooding youngsters when you are at the wrong end of the table and going into games needing to get something.

"That is pressure and it's not ideal. To give a youngster a chance, you would like better circumstances but as our circumstances stand, if I have to use them, I will."

  • CHERRIES' FA Cup first round clash at Barrow a week on Saturday has been made all ticket. Travelling supporters must purchase tickets in advance.

The away allocation is 600, with 450 standing and 150 in a seated area. Seating tickets are £15 for adults and £10 for concessions (under-16s, over-65s and students). Standing tickets are £12 for adults and £8 for concessions. Tickets will be on sale from Dean Court in due course.

Meanwhile, Cherries supporters have until 5pm on Monday to purchase tickets for the Leeds match. The ticket office will also be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Cherries: (from) Moss, Telfer, Gowling, Cooper, Kuffour, Anderton, Karacan, Hollands, Bradbury, Lallana, Pearce, Vokes, McQuoid, Pitman, Young, Partington, Stewart.

Bristol Rovers: (from) Phillips, Green, Lescott, Coles, Hinton, Elliott, Jacobson, Carruthers, Pipe, Campbell, Disley, Haldane, Walker, Lambert, Williams, Igoe, Rigg, Lines.