CHERRIES striker Joe Quigley is vowing to return before the end of the season after suffering a serious knee injury.

Quigley, who is on loan to Gillingham, damaged his anterior cruciate ligament during the closing stages of their 2-1 win over Bury on Saturday.

The Lymington-raised teenager sustained the injury in just his third appearance for the Gills and had only come on as an 86th-minute substitute against the Shakers.

At the time, the incident looked innocuous and Quigley was able to finish the game.

It was initially feared the 19-year-old frontman would be ruled out for the rest of the season.

However, Quigley returned to Vitality Stadium and was re-assessed by Cherries’ team of medical staff at the start of the week.

And following a detailed examination, it was discovered he had suffered a partial, rather than total, rupture of the ligament.

He is expected to undergo surgery once the swelling has subsided.

Quigley today took to Twitter and posted: “Gutted to be out injured, thanks for all the kind messages! I will be back before the end of the season.”

Quigley came off the bench to make his Football League debut during Gillingham’s 3-1 win at Southend on the opening day of the season and started in the League Cup as the Kent outfit repeated the scoreline against the Shrimpers at Roots Hall.

Meanwhile, Cherries defender Tyrone Mings today returned to full training with Eddie Howe’s squad for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament almost 12 months ago.

Mings, an £8million buy from Ipswich last summer, sustained his injury just minutes into his Premier League debut against Leicester City on August 29.

He also took to Twitter and posted: “First full contact session with the team today.... Days like this make the darker ones worth it!”