DISTRAUGHT Cherries goalkeeper Neil Moss admitted he was close to tears after being told his injury jinx had struck again.

Moss learned he could be out for up to three months after sustaining a broken wrist during the warm-up ahead of Cherries' clash at Cheltenham on Saturday.

An X-ray yesterday revealed that he had fractured the scaphoid in his right wrist as he attempted to save a shot from Brett Pitman.

He had only just returned from a two-month layoff after recovering from knee and facial injuries suffered in unrelated incidents in November.

The popular 32-year-old told the Daily Echo: "I thought I'd had a bad injury with the medial knee ligaments but this is even worse. It's going to take me a bit of time to wonder what on earth I've done to deserve this run I've had recently.

"It was no real surprise when the doctor told me. I've dislocated things before and you know when something is or isn't damaged. As soon as it happened, I knew deep down that I'd done some damage.

"The X-ray just confirmed that it was even worse than I had first feared.

"I thought I might have cracked a bone but, for a goalkeeper, the scaphoid is the worst one you can break in terms of time out because you can't mess about with it.

"The doctor was explaining about the blood supply and said that if you're not careful and keep damaging it then you can end up killing off that part of the bone. That would certainly mean curtains for me in terms of goalkeeping because you would lose a lot of mobility in your wrist. When you're being told something like that, you are choking back a bit and it was hard to take.

"I've been out for two months already and I'm certainly getting payback this season for all the years I went without getting any injuries. I was feeling sharp and looking forward to trying to win back my place and it's just turned on its head and I can't believe it."

Moss, who is expected to spend four to six weeks with his wrist in a plaster cast, is today due to have a consultation with a specialist when he will find out whether the joint will need to be pinned.

Cherries boss Kevin Bond said: "It's hugely frustrating for him and us. He must be gutted about it having worked so hard to get back to full fitness and we all feel the same."

Discussing the possibility of drafting in a replacement, Bond added: "Given the situation we're in and the fact we've got Gareth who has played for the past couple of months, I'd be surprised if I brought anybody else in.

"Gareth has kept goal excellently and to the point that I neither wanted nor were able to take him out of the side just because Mossy was fit and I hope he maintains that form. It's not ideal having one goalkeeper but there is nothing we can do about it."

Goalkeeping coach Stuart Murdoch has left Dean Court to take up a similar post with Norwich City.

  • The Daily Echo was yesterday unable to contact Cherries chairman Jeff Mostyn for an update on the club's financial position.