DEFENDERS Joe Bennett and Filippo Costa have both left Cherries after their respective loans with the club were effectively cut short.

Bennett, who signed from Aston Villa on deadline day, has returned to the Midlands to have treatment to an Achilles injury.

The 25-year-old left-back was drafted in to provide cover after both Charlie Daniels and Tyrone Mings had been forced off during Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Leicester at the end of August.

But Bennett did not feature for the first team before suffering his injury last month.

Costa, who had been part of the Cherries under-21 squad, has headed back to Italy after parent club Chievo requested his return due to an injury crisis.

Cherries agreed to let him leave at the end of last month, allowing the Italian under-20 international to be assessed by Chievo and resume training with them.

While both Bennett and Costa have gone back to their respective clubs, their loan deals with Cherries officially expire once the transfer window has re-opened in January.

  • Filippo Costa has been charged by the FA following an alleged incident during Cherries’ Under-21 Premier League Cup match at Gillingham in September.

Details of the charge were listed on the FA website earlier this month and said Costa had allegedly used “abusive and/or insulting words, contrary to Rule E3(1). It is further alleged that this breach of Rule E3(1) is an “aggravated breach” as defined in Rule E3(2), as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race”.

Costa initially had until December 15 to respond but requested a seven-day extension which was granted. It is understood he intends to deny the charge.