JONATHAN Woodgate revealed both David Brooks and Junior Stanislas have been suffering from illness.

Brooks, who has not played for Cherries since February due to an ankle problem, was set to return against Middlesbrough this afternoon.

However, he was ruled out of the matchday squad due to illness.

Stanislas started the 3-1 win against Boro, but was withdrawn after an hour and headed straight down the tunnel having been replaced by Jack Stacey.

Asked for the latest on Stanislas, Woodgate told the Daily Echo: "Junior wasn’t 100 per cent to play. He’s been a bit ill, Junior.

"So I’ll just have to see how he is for the next game. But he played even though he’s a little bit ill, which was a good sign."

Quizzed further on Brooks's absence, Woodgate added: "Brooksy has been ill. He hasn’t got COVID. None of us have got COVID, but he just had the flu.

"So he was a risk."

Cherries sit seventh in the Championship table, one point behind Reading with a game in hand.

Woodgate's men are back in action at Blackburn Rovers on Monday (3pm).