CHERRIES enter today’s game with Burnley hoping for one thing – a first win of the Premier League campaign.

It will be the 10th time Cherries take the pitch in the top flight under Andoni Iraola, with the game being billed as a six-pointer thanks to both team’s lowly positions.

Iraola will have multiple constraints whilst he picks his team, which we have tried to predict in our weekly article.

Goalkeeper

The biggest team news (aside from Lewis Cook’s suspension) is that goalkeeper Neto will be out until the international break next month with an ankle issue.

Iraola has confirmed that Andrei Radu will take the Brazilian’s starting spot, which avoids the headache of making a guess.

Darren Randolph is also unavailable, which allowed Cherries to recall Mark Travers from his loan spell at Stoke City.

The Irishman was hooked from training with the Potters to rush back to Cherries in order to be eligible for today’s game, but is seems likely that Radu will start against the Clarets.

Travers will be ineligible for Wednesday’s EFL Cup game against Liverpool, having played in the first round for Stoke, so it seems his first Cherries appearance of the season could come against Manchester City next weekend.

Defence

The absence of Neto provokes a debate over who should don the captain’s armband.

Reading between the lines to Iraola’s press conference, it seems that Adam Smith could be in line for a second league start.

When asked who would wear the captain’s armband, Iraola replied: “We'll see if we have the necessity to think on that question or not, depending on the lineup and the decision we make.

“But it's not so important whether they are the captain for one game or not.

“I think everyone, even if they don't wear the armband, has to push, has to think collectively, has to play their game and then.

“Try to help the others communicate.

“This is something that we really need now.”

Including Smith from the off avoids the issue of naming another captain, although former skipper Lloyd Kelly will likely start, becoming an automatic candidate for the armband.

Chris Mepham is back in contention, but Illia Zabarnyi seems to be preferred by Iraola.

At left-back there is the opportunity for Max Aarons to keep his place in the team, but it feels unlikely that a natural left-footer in Milos Kerkez would be removed at the expense of a right-footed full-back.

Midfield

The next big issue rears its head when we look at central midfield.

Tyler Adams is out until the new year, whilst Lewis Cook will now be banned for the next three games.

Marcos Senesi has been named as a possibility to replace Cook as the holding midfielder, but Joe Rothwell has been preferred in that role when both players have been available.

Although neither are naturals as a number six, Rothwell’s more recent experience makes him the prime candidate.

Alex Scott made his debut and seems a safe bet to start again. Whether he can now last a full game remains questionable.

Philip Billing provided the assist for Dom Solanke’s opener against Wolves, and has been one of the more consistent performers in a struggling team.

It is hard to see the Dane removed, but expect Ryan Christie to come off the bench.

Forwards

In an inconsistent season, there has been one constant – a lack of regulars on the wing.

With a plethora of options, Iraola has frequently chopped and changed out wide.

Perhaps stability in selection could pave the way for consistent performances – as such, we’re guessing that Marcus Tavernier and David Brooks will keep their spots in the starting lineup.

One bright spark this season has been Dominic Solanke’s form. With Neto missing out, Cherries’ talisman will certainly be the first name on the team sheet,

Predicted XI: Radu; Smith, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez; Rothwell, Scott, Billing; Tavernier, Brooks; Solanke.