CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe is refusing to rule out the possibility of Junior Stanislas being fit for the start of the new campaign – but admits he faces a race against time.

Stanislas missed the final six games of last season after sustaining a serious knee injury during Cherries’ 2-2 draw at Watford at the end of March.

The 28-year-old winger damaged the anterior ligaments in his left knee and went under the knife to repair the problem just days later.

It brought to a premature end an injury-interrupted season for Stanislas who was troubled by hamstring and groin problems during the first half of the campaign.

Stanislas, who described 2017-18 as the “most frustrating” season of his career, netted four goals in his final eight games in the Premier League and had been on top form.

The Londoner is currently in La Manga with the rest of the Cherries squad and is training under the watchful eye of the club’s medical staff.

He watched from the sidelines as Cherries opened their warm-up campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sevilla on Saturday and is not expected to feature against Levante tomorrow (7pm).

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Junior will probably miss the majority of pre-season with the rest of the group but he is in good shape and moving in the right direction.

“It is possibly too early to rule him out completely and we want to wait and see how he responds during the remainder of his rehab.

“He is going to miss the bulk of the training – if not all of it – so, naturally, you could say it is going to be difficult for him to start the season.

“The most important thing is that we get him back in really good condition and able to complete the season.

“We will take our time with him if we need to. He had a few injury issues last season and was a big miss when he was out.

“He is desperate to play and desperate to get involved and we are very keen to get him back as and when he is ready.”

Cherries team-mate Callum Wilson has been a good sounding board for Stanislas having fought back from two serious knee injuries.

Wilson said: “Junior is in the changing room all the time so you ask him how he is feeling and how it is.

“You give him words of advice and he knows if he ever has a question, he can ask me and I will give him my view and opinion and what experience I have of it.

“He is a great character, is strong minded and is working hard. He will be back soon and we need him.

“We are urging him to make sure he does his rehab properly, doesn’t rush anything and gets to 100 per cent so when he comes back, he stays back.

“He knows from having experience of injuries that he can’t rush anything. When he gets back, he needs to stay back and that’s the most important thing."