Scotland Under-21 internationalist Ryan Fraser is keeping his fingers crossed that his season has not come to a premature end.
The Bournemouth winger has suffered a setback back in his recovery from a hamstring tear that he sustained at the start of February while on loan at English Championship side Ipswich.
Former Aberdeen playmaker Fraser, who was also sidelined for three months with knee ligament damage before the turn of the year, was initially set to be ruled out for up to eight weeks.
But Cherries manager Eddie Howe, speaking to the Bournemouth Daily Echo, admits Fraser, who would have been in contention for this month’s friendlies against the Czech Republic and Denmark had he been available, might not play again this season.
Howe said: “Ryan came back to us for treatment. He had a little niggle about a week ago so I wouldn’t say he was close to returning to Ipswich.
“There is no time frame at the moment. We would hope to get him back there before the end of the season but there is no guarantee.”