CHERRIES confirmed Adam Smith would be sidelined for up to three months after undergoing a procedure to repair a cartilage tear in his right knee.

The defender visited a specialist and discovered the injury had not been as serious as first feared.

Smith had to be substituted in Cherries' Premier League defeat at Newcastle United earlier this month.

The 27-year-old was stretchered off midway through the first half at St James's Park after collapsing to the ground having attempted to take a quick free-kick.

His shortened appearance against Newcastle had been his 200th for Cherries since he made his debut while on loan at the Dorset club in 2010.

Smith missed the final two months of last season after suffering medial ligament damage during a robust tackle by West Brom’s Jake Livermore.

The Tottenham academy graduate joined Cherries permanently in 2014 and agreed a fresh four-year contract last year.

Defenders Charlie Daniels and Diego Rico could be vying to fill his spot in the starting XI against Arsenal on Sunday.