SCOTT Parker revealed a fresh back injury was the cause behind Junior Stanislas’s latest absence, insisting: “It couldn’t have been unluckier.”

Parker yesterday ruled Stanislas out for the remainder of the campaign due to the problem.

The 32-year-old has been plagued by injury concerns all season, suffering hamstring and shoulder issues, restricting him to just eight first-team appearances.

The last of those came in December, when he came off the bench before swiftly departing again during the 3-0 win over Cardiff City.

Asked to confirm the injury Stanislas is struggling with, having confirmed the winger would not play again this season, Parker told the Daily Echo: “His back. He’s got a bit of a problem with his back.

“We’ve tried to get some advice and some treatment and he’s done everything he can, but there just seems a little bit of a persistent one really.

“Probably the best call is just to really shut this down and try and give him some oxygen a little bit and let’s just go from there.”

Asked if the problem Stanislas had sustained came during one of his appearances earlier this season, Parker explained: “No, it didn’t. He had a problem during his rehab really.

“So it was something innocuous. There was nothing in his rehab he was doing. It’s a disc issue in his back, which has just slipped.

“I mean, it couldn’t have been unluckier, to be quite honest with you.

“It had nothing to do with being on the grass. It wasn’t doing a jogging session or doing any work, it’s just one of these things that can happen, slipped discs and that’s where it is.”

Stanislas, who signed a fresh two-year deal with Cherries in the summer, is sadly no stranger to injury troubles.

In his eight seasons at the club since joining from Burnley, Stanislas has made 174 appearances, an average of less than 22 per year.

Reflecting on his latest setback, Parker said: “Everyone around Junior is supporting him. He’s a guy with big experience, he’s a guy with big personality.

“But in saying that, it’s a psychological one when you’re injured. There’s nothing worse than being injured and obviously the cycle that Junior is in, it just seems like I’m sure he’s thinking ‘where is the light?’.

“And I can understand that. But we’re here, he’s a good guy, he’s a good person, a good pro, he’ll be fine.”

Asked if he is confident Stanislas will make a full recovery and have a big role to play next season, Parker added: “Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully just parking this one (season) as well gives him that little bit of a license as well and just puts it to bed a little bit.

“And just get ready and get strong now for pre-season and helping us next year.”