RELIEVED Joe Partington has been given the green light to resume training after fears were allayed he may have become the latest victim of Cherries’ injury crisis.

Partington, who was plagued by groin and back problems last season, was forced off just 22 minutes into Cherries’ friendly against Derby after complaining of tight hamstrings.

Initially, there were concerns the midfielder may have suffered either a tear or a pull and could have been set for a considerable spell on the sidelines.

However, the symptoms have eased during the past few days and boss Eddie Howe expects to have Partington back in training by the end of the week.

The 20-year-old, who has shown some encouraging signs during Cherries’ warm-up games, will miss the visit of his boyhood heroes Portsmouth tomorrow (7.45pm).

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Hopefully, it’s not too serious for Joe and we can get him back in training before the end of the week. It’s a relief because hamstrings can take a while.

“It is going to be a big season for Joe, as it is for all the young players, because breaking through into the first team is always the hardest transition to make.

“Joe will want to play regularly and has got to be a consistent performer when given his opportunities to make that final step. We hope he can continue to progress and improve and, if he does, he won’t be far away.

“He has been unfortunate because our central midfielders have been excellent, especially last season, and we are very strong in that area. But if and when he gets his chances this season, hopefully, he can take them and stay in the team.”

Portsmouth-born Partington will also miss Cherries’ visit Southampton in the first round of the Carling Cup in a fortnight due to international duty with Wales under-21s.

Howe added: “That is something else Joe has had to deal with and it has been difficult for him. In the past, when he has had a run in the team, done well and kept his place, suddenly, he has had an international call-up and the team has had to change.

“He is constantly trying to fight for his place. A lot of people say international football is a help to the careers of young players and, in some senses, it is. But for a player like Joe, who is trying to win a place in the team, it is a bit of a disruption because he is constantly taken away from us.”

Fellow midfielder Danny Hollands, who is today due to have surgery to cure a double hernia, will definitely miss the start of the season and is expected to be out for around three weeks.

Howe says strikers Steve Fletcher (heel) and Steve Lovell (ankle) are both unlikely to be in contention for Cherries’ curtain-raiser at Charlton, although Michael Symes (groin) is now rated as “touch and go” by the manager.