CHERRIES star Ryan Garry could be back in action sooner than was first anticipated - despite today discovering that he has broken his leg.

An X-ray revealed that Garry suffered a fracture to the base of his right shin during a collision with Northampton striker Andy Kirk on Saturday.

But the defender was also boosted by the news that he suffered a fresh break, rather than re-fracturing an old injury.

Garry only returned to action in the summer after spending around four years on the sidelines recovering from multiple stress fractures to both shins.

And it was feared he could have been sidelined for anything up to six months had he suffered any further damage to the previously-affected area.

However, Cherries physio Steve Hard says Garry should discover the full extent of the new injury when he returns to the specialist in six weeks.

Hard said: "The specialist said that Ryan hasn't done anything to his old fracture but that there is a new fracture at the base of his shin bone.

"He is on crutches and wearing an air-cast. He can't do anything weight-bearing for six weeks when he will go back to the specialist to be re-X-rayed.

"Although we hope it is not as bad as we first feared on Saturday night, we will know more once Ryan has been re-assessed in six weeks."

Meanwhile, Cherries boss Kevin Bond said it would be "impossible to tell at this stage" for how long Garry could be missing.