CHERRIES star Tyrone Mings could spend the whole of the summer in America as he bids to recover from a long-term knee injury.

Mings, who tore anterior and medial ligaments on his debut against Leicester in September, is heading to Philadelphia to see a specialist.

The 23-year-old told the club website: "I've done most of my rehab so far in London at a clinic there. It's been very progressive and I'm getting there slowly.

"Since my last operation, they've taken the pins out of my medial ligament, strengthened it a little and now I'm doing strengthening exercises in my legs and getting the balance back.

"I'm going to Philadelphia to continue working. I should be out there until mid to late June, depending on where I am fitness-wise and what the club wants me to do.

"I'll spend the majority, if not all, of the summer there, then I'll be back early July with everyone else to get some testing and hopefully join in with some of the running. I'm getting closer and I want to do everything I can to get it right."

Mings joined Cherries in a then-club record £8million move from Ipswich last June, only to sustain his injury just six minutes into his first game.

He added: “I have good days and bad days. I'm pleased in terms of how it's feeling now, I'm not really running yet but I've tried to.

“I've been on the treadmill for the first time since the most recent operation so I'm getting there slowly – I've got to ensure it's better than it was before.

"In London, I have family who check up on me often. Being away from the ground is also nice in a cynical kind of way, just to be away from everything. It can be tough when you’re not involved.

"The days are quite long, I'll work on the injury three times a day and then go to the gym on an evening, so I'm doing everything I can. Hopefully it will be worth it."