LLOYD Kelly is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old has impressed this season, both at centre-back and left-back.

He was withdrawn at half-time of last weekend’s 3-1 win at Sheffield United and now will not feature for “some weeks”, according to boss Andoni Iraola.

Cherries are heading into a busy period, with seven fixtures to come in December, starting at home against Aston Villa on Sunday (2pm).

Providing a team news update, Iraola said: “Lloyd Kelly is injured. He has a muscle injury.

“He will be out for some weeks. The rest will be, I hope, the same as against Sheffield United.

“We still have tomorrow’s training, but if nothing happens tomorrow, that will be the squad.”

Discussing Kelly’s absence, Iraola added: “It is a hamstring injury. I don’t how many weeks, but it is going to be some weeks.

“The timing is not good, because we are playing a lot of games in December, key games for us. But normally injuries come at the worst time. That’s what has happened now with Lloyd.

“It is bad news, obviously, because he has been performing really well from the beginning.

“He has been playing as a centre-back very well and has been playing at left-back very well.

“He is a very, very good defender. Obviously you never want your best players to get these kind of injuries, but it is happening to all the teams.

“We have to get ready to be solid without him.

“We have very good alternatives I think. So the same that has happened with other players and we have kept competing, we have to do the same without Lloyd.”