NO TEAM has scored fewer goals in the Premier League this season than Cherries, and only two have conceded more.

But it is in the centre of the pitch where Andoni Iraola faces his greatest dilemma in terms of team selection this weekend.

There is no getting away from the importance of Saturday’s home clash against Burnley.

With games against Champions League duo Manchester City and Newcastle United on the horizon, Iraola will know the potential consequences of failing to get a positive result this weekend.

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Vincent Kompany’s Clarets sit in the relegation zone with Cherries, their only win so far coming against fellow newly-promoted outfit Luton Town.

So as maddening as Lewis Cook’s red card was in the context of how Saturday’s home loss to Wolves unfolded, the full scale of his dismissal is now being felt.

Ever since Jefferson Lerma opted against staying at Cherries and leaving to join Crystal Palace on a free transfer, the talk has been of who will fill that void.

And that question is not going away.

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Throughout pre-season, Iraola batted the question up to the boardroom, remaining confident they would recruit somebody to fill the role.

Of course, Tyler Adams was supposed to be that man. The USA international arrived from Leeds United injured, but a further setback means he will not add to his 20 minutes of action for the club until 2024.

Cook has been filling the role admirably for much of the season. Being the deepest midfield destroyer is not a position we have seen from him all too often, but, aside from a couple of iffy moments, he has been growing into the season.

When the team news dropped on Saturday afternoon, there was generally excitement as Alex Scott returned from injury to partner him.

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It is the fifth different central midfield partnership Iraola has used to start a game this season. The most regular duo has been Cook and Philip Billing, while Cook has also begun games alongside Ryan Christie.

At the start of the season, when Cook was injured, Joe Rothwell featured, alongside Billing or Christie. Cook and Rothwell also started together in the EFL Cup.

As touched upon there, this gaping hole in midfield is not a new problem. Cherries started this season with Cook and Scott injured and having not signed Adams.

Asked how much not having Adams available, or a natural alternative, has changed the way he would ideally have approached games this season, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “He is a very important player for us and from our team, also because of his character, his leadership. I think his communication skills are very good.

“He is used to performing at a high level, but this (injury) is something that we cannot change.

“He will be out for some months. So we have to compete with other players.

“Alex Scott is a good addition, because it is true that having both of them out together was a lot, especially for the midfield.”

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Rothwell impressed in that deeper role on the opening day against West Ham, but his performances faded and Cook came in to steal the shirt.

Iraola himself finished his career playing in central midfield.

Asked earlier this season what it takes to make a good defensive midfield player, the Cherries boss said: “You have to understand the game very well.

“I finished playing there because I didn’t have the legs to play as a right-back and follow the wingers!

“I think I understood the game and I could survive as a number six.

“But it is not about your game only when you are a number six or a number eight.

“You have to understand what is happening around you, why we are not pressing well, we are not building up well. And also normally those players are the ones to go to the coach and say ‘coach, I think we have a problem, I think we need something else here’.

“When you are there in the middle, you feel that something is not working well. This is not easy to have, especially when you are young.”

Bournemouth Echo: Joe Rothwell was subbed at half-time

Rothwell looks the most likely, and reliable, choice at this stage to now step back into the side.

The former Blackburn Rovers man has however admitted the defensive side of his game is something he has had to work very hard at since arriving at Cherries last year.

Speaking earlier this month about his spell playing a deeper midfield role, Rothwell told the Daily Echo: “You can see the game ahead of you, you can see what’s going on.

“The manager has asked me to play that deeper role at times.

“It’s still something I probably need to get used to, because I’ve always played higher up and done that side of the game.

“But I’ve enjoyed doing it and if he wants me to play there, then I’m happy to do that.”

Providing he has come through his hour of action against Wolves unscathed, it would be expected Scott will retain his place.

Whether or not he could complete 90 minutes is another question, with Iraola admitting the 20-year-old had just about reached the limit of what he was capable of fitness wise last weekend.

Christie was left out of the starting XI for the first time in the league this season on Saturday, as Billing took the more advanced midfield role.

A possible solution to the Cook absence could be to deploy Christie, or Billing, deeper alongside Scott. Should he go down that route, Cherries do have the likes of Hamed Traore or David Brooks to play some minutes in the advanced midfield role, bearing in mind Cook also misses next week’s cup clash against Liverpool. Marcus Tavernier has also played centrally earlier in his career.

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Christie has been used in that role sparingly during the campaign, having been trialled there during pre-season.

Discussing the Scot during the summer, Iraola said: “I think I prefer Ryan as a number 10.

“I think he’s more suited for this position, or even from the side coming inside.

“But he is tactically smart, so he can be valuable anywhere.”

Bournemouth Echo: Marcos Senesi played in an unfamiliar midfield role against Lorient

One name on many fans’ lips is Marcos Senesi.

The Argentine centre-back has been in and out of the team in recent weeks, with Lloyd Kelly often preferred when fit.

Early in Iraola’s reign, the 26-year-old had a couple of cameos in a holding midfield role, notably providing an assist from that position during a friendly against Lorient, crossing for Kieffer Moore to score.

But it would seem a big stretch to insert Senesi in to plug the gap in midfield from the start of a Premier League fixture.

Discussing Senesi being used as a midfielder during pre-season, Iraola said: “Marcos is very good on the ball.

“I think he can play in this position, in certain moments. But we are not thinking he can be an option long term.

“He has the quality, especially on the ball. He understands the game. But it (him playing in midfield) was because we didn’t have the numbers and he could help us there.”

Bournemouth Echo: Gavin Kilkenny has not played competitively for Cherries since May 2022

One player Cherries do have in their squad, who is at risk of becoming the forgotten man, is Gavin Kilkenny.

Aside from Adams, the Irishman is arguably the most natural holding midfielder in the squad, albeit very different stylistically.

Known for his composure on the ball and ability to pick passes, rather than being a tough tackler, Kilkenny gained some match minutes by featuring for the development squad against Bristol City on Tuesday afternoon.

The 23-year-old, under contract until 2025, has made 24 competitive appearances for Cherries, but none since May 2022.

After a tough season out on loan, struggling to break into the team at Stoke City and then Charlton Athletic, Kilkenny returned over the summer.

He featured regularly during pre-season, but has not played a minute yet this term, having been an unused substitute on five occasions.

Discussing the Irishman, development squad boss Connell, who also previously worked with him at under-18 level, told the Daily Echo this week: “There is someone that has already come through the academy and played a number of times for our first team.

“When he was in the team, especially in the promotion season, he was a key part of that team. His quality is obvious for everyone to see.

“He’s not played for a while, as everyone knows. So for him to get 75 minutes under his belt will I’m sure benefit him.

“There’s no guarantees with any loan and how it’s going to go. You need the right fit. I think that’s important. The right manager, the right style potentially as well.

“In Gav’s case, he’s obviously played (on Tuesday), so if our manager calls upon him, he’s ready.

“The fact that he’s played (this week), I’m sure he’ll be sharper and better for that experience.”

Connell added: “He’s training every day and the first team have decided, along with Gav, that it would be good for him to have a game (against Bristol City).

“We’re more than happy to help him get up to full match speed and hopefully he can get an opportunity back in our first team in the near future.”

Discussing Kilkenny back in August and if he saw him as an option, Iraola said: “I think he has given himself a chance.

“He is pushing. He has been training all the sessions.

“He played in the friendlies, but it is really tough to play in the Premier League.

“He is giving his best. We are trying to help him also.

“You never know when you have the chance.”

A change of tactical shape has also been mooted as a potential way to try and solve the dearth of midfield options, especially given the plethora of centre-backs currently available.

Some fans have aimed criticism towards those recruiting the players, with claims the squad is imbalanced with too many wingers and not enough cover in central midfield.

But Iraola did not agree.

He said: “It has been like this for one reason – we had injured players.

“If you have Tyler and Alex Scott, then there is balance.

“But sometimes you cannot control the injuries. Now it is true we probably have more offensive power, offensive threats, than players in other positions.

“But it is a matter of injuries.”

While the current situation is far from ideal, Iraola does have options. How he utilises each one during Cook’s absence will be fascinating and pivotal to both his and the team’s fortunes.