DEDICATED Cherries star Danny Hollands is vowing to keep playing through the pain barrier despite requiring surgery to cure a deteriorating hernia injury.

The tenacious midfielder has been struggling for the past month but has delayed going under the knife due to Cherries' crippling injury crisis.

And although the 22-year-old will eventually have to be taken out of the firing line, Hollands is hoping his spell on the sidelines will be short-lived.

Former Chelsea reserve team skipper Hollands is keen for world-renowned specialist Dr Ulrike Muschaweck to carry out his operation at her Munich practice.

The consultant has treated a number of footballers and her expertise helped England striker Michael Owen make a rapid return following a recent double bout of groin surgery.

Owen hailed his recovery as "unbelievable" having scored Newcastle's winner against Everton in October just eight days after he had gone under the knife.

Hollands told the Daily Echo: "I was fortunate enough to be referred to Dr Muschaweck and had a groin operation when I was with Chelsea a couple of years ago. That was on my right-hand side and this time it's a hernia on the left.

"I am speaking to the club to see if I can get something sorted out and would like to go there again because hopefully you can be back playing after about seven days. It's a case of trying to fit it in and although I don't want to miss any games, I would probably have to miss one or two."

Hollands, who has been one of Cherries' most consistent performers in recent weeks, added: "The symptoms have got worse over the past three to four weeks. At first, it was just a stomach pain and I thought I had a touch of flu. But it gradually got worse and started to ache when I coughed.

"I can feel it during the warm-up and it aches a lot after games. But I'm still playing and feel okay during games, which is the main thing. Hopefully I can keep going for as long as the gaffer needs me and then get it done.

"Nobody likes missing games but it's got to be done eventually. It's been niggling away and I don't want it to get too bad, although it feels okay at the moment so I can keep going for the time being."