CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has revealed that Elliott Ward faces two months on the sidelines after going under the knife to correct a knee problem.

The centre-half appeared to have overcome the long-standing injury when he featured in the 2-0 League Cup win over Exeter on August 12, only for the joint to swell afterwards.

Ward, 29, went to the renowned Villa Stuart Clinic in Italy to be assessed by medics before undergoing surgery earlier this week.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Elliott Ward has had an operation and we expect him to be out for about two months.

“Taking all things into consideration, we felt that sending him to Italy and getting him the best possible treatment was the right thing to do.

“Hopefully this has got to the bottom of the problem and we can get him back sooner rather than later. He’s got a big part to play for us this year and in the future beyond that.

“We’re not blessed with huge numbers in the centre-back department but Simon Francis and Ian Harte have played there before and Baily Cargill is coming through.

“When you analyse it like that, I think we’re OK.”

Ward initially sustained the damage to his right knee when he collided with an advertising hoarding in the 1-0 home defeat to Leicester at the start of February.

He was out for 11 weeks before earning a recall for Cherries’ 2-2 draw at Ipswich on Easter Monday, only for his knee to flare up following the Portman Road encounter.

The former Norwich defender went under the knife in May and was named on the bench for Cherries’ Championship opener at Huddersfield.

But discomfort following the Exeter League Cup tie resulted in a second operation in three months.

Meanwhile, right-back Simon Francis returned to training today and Howe revealed that a “late decision” would be made on whether the former Charlton man would feature against Norwich on Saturday. Midfielder Shaun MacDonald (thigh) could return to fitness next week.