BOURNEMOUTH head coach Will Croker revealed Toby Kenneally was making good progress after undergoing an ankle operation.

The lock forward was stretchered off after just nine minutes of Lions’ 27-21 home defeat to Newbury Blues in their South West Premier opener at Chapel Gate earlier this month.

Croker, who initially believed the break would end Kenneally’s season, received some positive news that the forward may be back in contention sooner than expected.

He told the Daily Echo: “Toby is good. They have been really pleased with how the operation has gone.

“He is actually saying to me that he is eyeing up playing at the end of January.

“That is way ahead of what anybody had said but the doctors are saying it is knitting together quite nicely.

“Providing he can get the muscle strength back, he will return before the end of the season.”

Kenneally made the trip to see Lions record a 32-25 triumph over Weston-super-Mare five days ago.

Croker added: “Toby badly broke his other ankle in a motorbike accident when he was a kid. He knows what it takes to get back from an injury like that.

“Lots of people would have had their confidence dented and they would have had to build themselves up from a mental side of it.

“He really can’t wait to get back out there and the guys are right behind him. He is a big part of our club and we are delighted he is making good progress.”

Bournemouth are looking to record their third win on the bounce tomorrow when they host Camborne at Chapel Gate (3pm).

With the visitors having finished third in the division last season, Croker is fully aware his troops will need to be at their best.

“Camborne will be one of the sides who are figuring at the top. It will be a good barometer for us,” he added.

“They are a club which has great ambition and great aspiration.

"They started like a train last season and things went slightly wrong for them after they lost their head coach.

“They had an incredibly good game with Newton Abbot on Saturday, so we are looking forward to it.

“We will still get better. I think there are still a couple of really big results coming for us once we click.

“There are some good attacking teams. We need to make sure we are tight in defence but we want to ensure we can unpick defences when we get the opportunity.”