STEVE Cook faces an anxious wait to discover the full extent of a hamstring injury sustained during Cherries’ 2-1 win over Stoke on Saturday.

The defender succumbed after just 13 minutes, his substitution forcing boss Eddie Howe into a tactical switch which saw striker Joshua King replace him.

Cook is expected to have a scan early this week and could be sidelined for up to a month if the damage is found to be serious.

Following Cook’s departure, Simon Francis partnered Nathan Ake in central defensive with Ryan Fraser operating as a conventional right-back.

Boss Eddie Howe said: “He felt his hamstring on one of the passes he made wide and we knew instantly he couldn’t continue.

“With our stretched resources defensively, it is a big blow for us.

“Full credit to Ryan Fraser for playing at right-back. It is one thing playing wing-back, that’s quite like his normal role as he played at Chelsea.

“Although moving deeper to play right-back is not new to him, he hasn’t done it so much in the Premier League.

“I thought he handled himself very well.”

Cook’s anticipated absence will compound Cherries’ defensive concerns with Adam Smith having missed the past two games with a thigh problem.

Howe added: “Adam has been in London getting treatment on his thigh.

“We are hoping it is not serious and can get him back into the group very quickly. But until he is back training, it is difficult to say how long he will be out for.”