CHERRIES midfielder Hamed Traore is recovering at home after a spell in hospital having contracted malaria.

The 23-year-old went away on international duty with Ivory Coast in November, scoring his first goals for his nation in victory over Seychelles.

That put him in a good spot for selection for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, but he will now miss the tournament, due to ill health.

"Right now he is recovering," explained Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola. 

"He is much better than he was in the past weeks.

"It has been a really tough situation for him personally, because of the timing and it is a disease that makes you very weak.

"Now he is out from the hospital, he is here with us, but from the sport side, he has to be out for some time."

Asked what the next steps will be, Iraola said: "They have to check that everything works well, all his body is working properly.

"But for sure he will be out for some months.

"I cannot be more concrete, but obviously he will not be part of the Africa Cup of Nations and he will not be able to play for us for some time."

It is understood Traore began feeling unwell soon after returning from international duty last month and was hospitalised for a number of weeks.

When previously asked about Traore’s absence from matchday squads at Cherries, head coach Andoni Iraola said it was due to “illness”.

The former Sassuolo man has now been discharged from hospital and returned home to recover, as he continues to suffer from after effects of the disease.

He will continue to undergo further medical tests.

Meanwhile, Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) have been called up by their countries for AFCON.

They will be available for Sunday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur, before joining up with their countries ahead of the tournament beginning on January 13.

Depending on the progress of the nations, Cherries could be without Ouattara and Semenyo for over a month, the final coming on February 11.

In that time, Cherries face Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup, as well as Premier League games against Liverpool, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

This Sunday, Cherries are without Milos Kerkez, Lloyd Kelly, Ryan Fredericks and Tyler Adams due to injury.

But Lewis Cook could return to feature, after his recent adductor problem.