LUCKLESS Cherries defender Tyrone Mings is set for another extended spell on the sidelines having succumbed to a back problem.

Mings, who had started the season in encouraging fashion, spent more than a year out after suffering a serious knee injury just six minutes into his Premier League debut in August 2015.

The 24-year-old penned a new four-year contract earlier this month having impressed against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup and against Manchester City in the league.

But he was substituted at half-time during the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal after feeling discomfort in his back during the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates.

Cherries manager Eddie Howe said: “We thought we could treat it without the intervention of a specialist but, unfortunately for Tyrone, it just seemed to get worse and kept nagging away.

“I don’t think there was a particular moment when it actually happened.

“It was one of those gradual things that crept up on him and just got worse.

“He was playing with it for a number of weeks before it got to a point after the Arsenal game when he felt it was impacting on his performance.

“He has seen a specialist who recommended a minimum of a month’s rest. It will be interesting to see what that rest does for his back.

“He has had a bit of pain in one area so, hopefully, the rest will cure it and he will be back in no time.

“With another international break coming up, it could mean he will miss three or four games maximum but it is all dependant on him coming back and feeling okay.”