ANDONI Iraola is hoping for good news on Max Aarons, after the full-back suffered another hamstring injury.

Aarons, who only returned last month for a hamstring setback, came off during the closing stages of Cherries’ 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

With all their substitutions already used, Cherries finished the game with 10 men.

Losing Aarons would be a blow for Cherries, as they are already without injured full-backs Adam Smith, Ryan Fredericks and Milos Kerkez, ahead of Thursday’s FA Cup clash with Swansea City.

“Right now we are really thin with the full-backs,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.

“Probably the worst thing today is that we are going to lose Max Aarons.

“He was the only proper full-back we had at 100 per cent.

“We will have to think what to do, especially for the next game against Swansea, because Lloyd Kelly played some minutes today. Probably he needs slowly, slowly more minutes. He is not fully fit.

“I don’t think we are going to recover Adam Smith or Milos Kerkez for the next game.

“James Hill didn’t play in the last round for Blackburn, so isn’t cup-tied, and we also recover Marcos from today.

“But especially in this full-back area, right now we are pretty thin.”

Asked if Aarons had suffered another hamstring issue, Iraola said: “I think it is the other leg. We have to make the assessment.

“He wanted to continue, but we decided not to risk, because we were not close in the game.

“We decided to finish the game with 10 players, because it didn’t make sense, especially considering his position is key right now for us.

“It didn’t make sense to force him to finish. I hope he has stopped before pulling his hamstring.”

There are 10 days left before the transfer window shuts, Cherries yet to strengthen their squad.

Asked if the club may have to look into the transfer market to aid their defensive issues, if Aarons is set for a spell out, Iraola added: “I think we will have to talk with the medical staff and see what the timings are, what we expect, how each individual position is.

“Because we have the numbers, we have the players.

“But right now I think almost all the injuries we have are focused in these positions.

“There are not so many days and we have to take the decision.”

The last two matches have seen Marcus Tavernier and Hill fill in to start in unfamiliar left-back roles, while Kelly came off the bench in that position during the second half against Liverpool.