ANDONI Iraola joked that “someone will have to play” at left-back for Cherries against Queens Park Rangers, with the head coach having to deal with an injury crisis at the back.

Makeshift defender Dango Ouattara was forced off with injury during Cherries’ defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend with an ankle issue.

Cherries had expected to be without the Burkina Faso international after his AFCON call up, but Ouattara could now miss the tournament due to his injury.

He joins Lloyd Kelly and Milos Kerkez in the treatment room, with Cherries currently without a senior left-back.

Iraola has previously hinted that development squad captain Ben Greenwood could be involved, the defender a natural left-back.

Asked for his thoughts on the left-back situation, Iraola commented: “Someone will have to play tomorrow!

“We will play with someone there.

“We have to think different options.

“I think we have different options because everything can happen even during the game.

“We've gone different, different ways.

“I think you can put the right full-back in the left side, you can go with it.

“Then we can go with, I think even Meps (Chris Mepham has) closed the game as left-back.

“Maybe more offensive player who could feel like Dango (Dango Ouattara).

“It is true that right now that Milos (Kerkez), Lloyd (Kelly), even Dango, that has played very, very well is out.

“So we will have to think different options.”

After it was put to Iraola that Cherries could change formation to deal with the left-back issue, the Basque boss replied: “We could go this way, but right now we are playing well.

“So I don't see us changing too much.

“Obviously we have to make small adjustments according to the opposition, but, now I don't see us playing with five at the back, if that's the question.”