EDDIE Howe is "very hopeful" he can welcome back Nathan Ake and Jefferson Lerma for tomorrow's clash with Chelsea (3pm).

Ake missed last weekend's clash against Burnley due to concussion, with Lerma absent due to an upper body injury.

But boss Howe says both could feature against the Blues at Vitality Stadium.

"Nathan has trained this week so we’re very hopeful he should be okay and has no ill effects from the slight head injury he got last week," he said.

"Jeff, similar. Had a back problem but he’s come through a couple of days training."

David Brooks, Lloyd Kelly, Chris Mepham and Arnaut Danjuma were all pictured running back on the training pitches this week. But Howe does not expect any to return just yet.

"They’re running on grass, I wouldn’t say they’re training," said the Cherries boss.

"They’ve not joined us yet. Meps is a bit behind the others I think in terms of time, he’s got still some way to go, but the others are improving quite quickly.

"We hope to get them involved back in training if not next week then maybe the week after, we’ll see."