CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has confirmed that Miles Addison could be out for a further four weeks.

The Cherries captain is currently on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury during a training session.

Addison received positive news when he visited a specialist on Tuesday and was given the green light to come out of a protective boot and step up his fitness bid.

But Howe says the speed of the 24-year-old defender’s comeback will depend on his reaction to that increase in workload.

“Miles has been wearing a protective boot and that will now come off, which is good news,” Howe told the Daily Echo.

“We haven’t been given a definite time-frame for his return but it will be very much a case of playing it day by day to see how he is reacting to certain things.

“But we can, hopefully, step him up pretty soon and he won’t be too far away in a month’s time.

“If he gets no reaction then, hopefully, we can build him up quite quickly.”

Cherries, meanwhile, are expected to assess the fitness of Marc Pugh (toe), Harry Arter (groin) and Shwan Jalal (calf) ahead of the home League One clash with Colchester on Saturday (3pm).

Howe added: “I don’t think any of them at this moment in time, touch wood, are serious in terms of long-term. But the injuries are all causing the respective players discomfort.”

Visitors Colchester will be without suspended trio Magnus Okuonghae, Marcus Bean and Gavin Massey.

Cherries: (from) James, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Fogden, Partington, MacDonald, O’Kane, Pugh, McQuoid, Pitman, Grabban, Demouge, Tubbs, McDermott, Fletcher, Arter, Barnard, Buchel, Jalal.

Colchester: (from) Cousins, Wilson, Eastman, Thompson, Potts, O’Toole, Bond, Wordsworth, Sears, Ibehre, Henderson, Rose, Duguid, Izzet, White, Coker, Wright, Gilbey, Pentney.