CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe says defenders Elliott Ward and Charlie Daniels are both making good progress with their respective rehabilitation programmes.

Ward damaged his right knee when he collided with an advertising hoarding during Cherries’ defeat by Leicester and is on schedule to return later this month.

And Daniels, who has missed the past four games after tearing a thigh muscle against Huddersfield, is on target to be back at the end of March or at the start of April.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Both Elliott and Charlie are doing well and we are pleased with their respective recoveries.

“Elliott has stepped up his running and is able to run pain-free so we are pleased with that and it will be a case of now building up his fitness.

“Charlie is further away but we have had good news from the scans and his thigh has shown a big improvement. But, because of the nature of his injury, it will probably take a bit longer to build him up and make sure he is strong enough not to re-injure that area.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Joe Partington was today due to have a scan to ascertain the full extent of a knee injury sustained during the early stages of Aldershot’s 1-1 draw at Dartford on Tuesday.

Partington, who is on loan to the Shots for the rest of the season, was stretchered off after just seven minutes at Princes Park having taken a heavy blow to his right knee.