EDDIE Howe labelled Tyrone Mings's back injury struggle "a real shame" and admitted the Cherries star would be unlikely to return before next season.

Plagued by injury since his £8million arrival from Ipswich Town in June 2015, Mings has not played for Cherries since the defeat at Arsenal at the beginning of September.

The 24-year-old is receiving treatment at Aspetar, a world-renowned orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital based in the Qatari capital of Doha.

And although pleased by Mings's progress, Cherries boss Howe revealed the towering defender would not be on a pitch any time soon.

He told the Daily Echo: "I don't think we will see Ty this season. It hasn't been totally ruled out but understanding he is going to need time to get everything right, it will probably be pre-season when we see him.

"We fully anticipate he will be able to do pre-season and train normally, as we stand now. So, hopefully, that will be the case.

"He is in one of the best places in the world for his injury so he is getting really good care. The facilities are unbelievable and we are really pleased with his progress.

"I think it's what he needed. He needed specialist treatment because it is a very delicate injury and his rehab is crucial to get everything right to make sure he comes back complete again."

Howe had initially hoped Mings would be available for Cherries' festive fixtures but a setback left the former Chippenham Town man facing further months on the sidelines.

The centre-half, who penned a new four-year contract in September, has made just 14 appearances since joining Cherries for a then club-record fee.

He spent more than a year out after suffering a knee injury six minutes into his Premier League debut against Leicester City in August 2015.

Reflecting further on Mings's troubles, Howe said: "I really feel for Ty because it isn't the first time he has had a serious injury and he did so well to come back from his knee because that was a really tough injury for him, especially when he had just joined a new club. That was tough for him to take, mentally.

"He got himself in the team and was playing well and we were really happy with his progress. But he broke down with something which at first we thought wasn't too serious which developed into a problem for him, so it has been a real shame."

Mings has a number of interests outside his first-team career at Cherries. He recently became an ambassador for Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion organisation.

The Bath-born ace oversees an academy in his name which provides coaching for children in the south west, while he and old school friend Katie Thomas run Bournemouth-based interior design business KTM Design.