CHERRIES boss Scott Parker insisted he could not afford to risk skipper Lloyd Kelly in their pre-season friendly against Bristol City – with the club currently lacking in options at centre-back.

Kelly, who has picked up a “slight niggle” according to the boss, missed the clash against his former club as well as Tuesday’s training match against Braga in Portugal.

Parker played a back five during the 1-0 defeat to the Robins, with James Hill and Chris Mepham lining up either side of midfielder Jefferson Lerma at centre-half.

Asked for an update on Kelly, the head coach told the Daily Echo: “He’s got a slight niggle. He picked up a stomach issue, or top hip-flexor issue.

“I think it’s fair to say if it was a league game, would he have played? I think he would have, so it is very minor.

“We just cannot afford to risk him at this moment in time.

“We just cannot afford to risk Lloyd Kelly because he is really only one of three centre-halves – and James Hill is a young boy – in the building.

“We need to be really careful and delicate with that one.”

Cherries face Real Sociedad in their final pre-season friendly at Vitality Stadium next Saturday.