AFC Bournemouth vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Arter boost for Cherries

Posted Friday, February 27, 2015 by PA

Bournemouth have Harry Arter available again as they look to bounce back against Blackburn.

The central midfielder was forced to sit out their midweek defeat at Nottingham Forest as he served the second match of a two-game ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards this season and he could step back into the starting line-up.

The Cherries, who have slipped to fourth in the table, were able to welcome Tokelo Rantie back for the first time since he picked up an injury in the Africa Cup of Nations and the striker is set to be involved once more.

Charlie Daniels and Marc Pugh also likely to come into Eddie Howe's thoughts.

FA Cup hero Josh King will miss Blackburn's trip because of a hamstring strain.

King is being monitored after coming off against Norwich in midweek just moments after he arrived. He netted a hat-trick against Stoke in the FA Cup fifth round but could also now miss the quarter-final visit to Liverpool next Sunday.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer will be able to call upon full-back Tommy Spurr again while David Dunn (calf) is fully fit once more.

That leaves the east Lancashire club with only Jason Lowe on the sidelines, and the versatile midfielder may not play again this season after discovering he needs an operation on his foot problem.