CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola rejected the suggestion that Lloyd Kelly is avoiding the risk of impacting a future move by being overly cautious with an injury, stating “he’s the first one that wants to play”.

Kelly has entered the final months of his contract at Vitality Stadium and is attracting interest from both England and abroad.

Signed from Bristol City for a reported £13million in 2019, Kelly joined on a five-year deal that has not been renewed since, and as such could depart Dean Court for nothing at the expiry of his contract.

Whilst Cherries remain hopeful of retaining Kelly’s services, it is looking increasingly likely that the defender’s future lies elsewhere, with reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, West Ham United, AC Milan, and Juventus.

The versatile defender has not featured for Cherries since a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle United in February, the 25-year-old out with a hip flexor issue.

Previous comments from Iraola implied that Kelly could be able to play with the issue.

Speaking before Cherries played Burnley at the start of March, Iraola said of Kelly’s injury: “It will depend on his sensations.

“He has a strain in the hip flexor. But it is not the most important of the muscles.

“Sometimes with a strained hip flexor you could play and it will depend on how he feels, how he goes through all the checks, inside and outside.”

Since the turn of the year Cherries’ talisman Dominic Solanke has been playing with a knee issue, the striker playing through the pain barrier for his side.

Earlier on in the campaign Iraola also revealed that stalwart Adam Smith had also played through injury troubles.

Asked if he felt that Kelly could be avoiding rushing back from injury in order not to jeopardise a future move, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “No, I trust him.

“I think he's the first one that wants to play and he wants to start.

“He knows his situation will be better, whatever is the situation, if he plays more and he plays better games.

“He's the first one that's put in the effort to recover.

“But he has a muscle injury, and it's a matter of giving the time to the muscle to heal and to feel comfortable.

“Until this happens, you have no chance.”

In total Kelly has made 132 appearances for Cherries, and captained the side to promotion from the Championship under Scott Parker.