PAUL Groves expressed his disappointment after confirming that Wes Fogden was set to spend up to six months on the sidelines.

The Cherries midfielder could miss the start of next season as he is poised to have surgery on a shoulder problem.

Interim manager Groves yesterday revealed the latest news on the former non-league star’s injury.

Fogden has made a promising start to his Cherries career – scoring three goals in 27 League One appearances – since joining from Havant & Waterlooville in October.

But the 24-year-old’s progress was halted when he suffered the shoulder problem in training two weeks ago and he is expected to have an operation be-fore the end of the current campaign.

Groves ad-mitted the verdict had dealt Cherries a setback.

He told the club website: “It looks like Wes is going to end up having to have an operation and if that is the case, we need to get that under way.

“He adds something different to the rest of the group and has become a very important part of the squad.

“To lose anyone as important as he is is a blow.”

Groves added: “It is difficult for any player to be injured and to have to deal with that, but it is part and parcel of the game.

“The club has to make sure all the work is carried out to make sure the players have the best possible chance to stay fit.”