THE Cherries return to Premier League action after the international break as they host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium.

It promises to be a mouth-watering clash between two south coast sides that play exciting football – although with weather warnings in place for rain and wind, conditions may be less than ideal.

The Daily Echo previews Saturday’s game.

Team News

The Cherries will be without right back Julian Araujo after he underwent surgery in the international break, joining Alex Scott for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Luis Sinisterra is also out with a more long-term injury, while Dango Ouattara is hoped to be fit to return.

Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez did not travel to join up with their respective national teams in the break, as they underwent treatment for ‘more chronic’ issues, Andoni Iraola said.

Both are set to be available to play, though.

(Image: Richard Crease) Ryan Christie is suspended after picking up five bookings.

The visitors will be without James Milner and Ferdi Kadioglu, while Lewis Dunk and Jack Hinshelwood will be assessed.

Carlos Baleba will be an option for the Seagulls from the start.

Head-to-Head

The two sides have a fairly even record across more than 100 games between them.

The Cherries have won 45, while the Seagulls have seen victory in 42, with 29 draws.

(Image: Richard Crease) Across the past six games, though, it is the Sussex side who have had the better of their Dorset counterparts, winning four, with Bournemouth taking the other two.

Last season, Brighton won 3-1 at home in September, thanks to a Kaoru Mitoma brace and a Milos Kerkez goal, although the Cherries had taken the lead through Dominic Solanke.

But Bournemouth comfortably beat their visitors at Dean Court in April, winning 3-0 with goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert.

Last Time Out

Iraola’s Cherries come into the game off the back of a disappointing defeat at Brentford, as the Bees continued their impressive home form.

Bournemouth led twice in the game, as Evanilson notched his third goal in three games after 17 minutes, before Kluivert added a second just minutes into the second half after Yone Wissa’s first half equaliser.

(Image: Richard Crease) But Mikkel Damsgaard levelled the game within a minute of the Dutchman’s goal, before Wissa completed his brace eight minutes later to give the Bees all three points.

Brighton, meanwhile, will be full of confidence after defeating Manchester City 2-1 at the Amex, a week after Bournemouth accomplished the same feat.

Erling Haaland gave City a half time lead, but goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley scored in the 78th and 83rd minutes to turn the game around.

The Cherries sit 12th in the Premier League on 15 points from 11 games, while the Seagulls are sixth on 19 points.