Bournemouth Hopeful Semenyo Returns vs Sunderland

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola expressed optimism Friday that forward Antoine Semenyo could return from injury for the team's Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. Semenyo, a key attacker with six goals and three assists in 11 appearances this season, missed last weekend's 2-2 home draw with West Ham United after aggravating a ligament injury around his left ankle and shin during international duty with Ghana.

The 25-year-old winger withdrew from Ghana's squad following a 2-0 friendly defeat to Japan, where the issue, a sprain to the anterior talofibular ligament, worsened despite being known prior to the camp. Bournemouth managed without him against West Ham, rallying from a two-goal deficit with a penalty from Marcus Tavernier and a strike by Enes Unal to earn a point and halt a potential third consecutive loss. Iraola, speaking at a prematch news conference, said of Semenyo's availability, "I hope so, we still have to do some training today, but he has been doing modified training with the team in the previous days. So if everything goes well today, yes, I think he is going to be available for tomorrow."