CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe stressed players' welfare had to come first in cases of potential concussion and insisted: "You are in the hands of the experts."

Football lawmakers this week have discussed the idea of a temporary substitute for players with head injuries, to allow for a lengthier period of assessment, similar to the system used in rugby union.

Talks have taken on added urgency after a study commissioned by the FA and PFA revealed former footballers are approximately three and a half times more likely to die of dementia than people of the same age range in the general population.

Asked if the current protocols in place on concussion were fit for purpose before UEFA raised concerns last season, Howe told the Daily Echo: "I think so. First and foremost, I am looking at my doctor to advise me on whether I need to make a change or not.

"To think that managers make decisions on these things you would be nowhere near the case.

"Now we know that we are in the hands of the medical team. You are in the hands of the experts that say this player can continue or this player can't continue.

"You then have to make your decision based on the information you have from them, so I think that is right and how it should be. "Then you can talk about whether you can give the doctors more time to make the decision with the rolling substitution or whatever the protocols you want in place. "I think anything that helps avoid any situations where players can do themselves serious damage the better."

Speaking towards the end of last season, UEFA's president, Aleksander Ceferin, said: “The health of players is of utmost importance and I strongly believe that the current regulations on concussion need updating to protect both the players and the doctors and to ensure appropriate diagnosis can be made without disadvantaging the teams affected."

Asked if he feared the impact a rolling substitution could have on the game, Howe said: "Like with most rules, people will look, maybe, to try to use them to their advantage tactically or whatever the situation of the game may be, so I don't know.

"It would need some serious thought but I think maybe having independent people judge the effectiveness of players' health, I don't know, that could be another option.

"There are a lot of different things we could look at."