Bournemouth v Portsmouth preview

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Bournemouth defender Tommy Elphick will miss the south-coast derby despite his knee injury not being as bad as first feared.

The 25-year-old had played every minute under manager Eddie Howe until a tackle from MK Dons striker Ryan Lowe last Saturday saw him taken off in the first half, with a scan revealing he will be ruled out for two to three weeks.

Fellow defender Charlie Daniels has missed the Cherries’ last two matches with a foot problem and he will be monitored by club staff ahead of the match.

In his absence, Howe has played Southampton loanee Dan Seaborne and new signing Matt Ritchie in his position and the latter could deputise again if Daniels does not make it.

Their impressive 3-0 win against Karl Robinson’s men moved Bournemouth to within four points of the automatic promotion places ahead of the home game with 23rd-placed Pompey.

Portsmouth can add three new players to their squad for the short trip along the south coast.

Caretaker boss Guy Whittingham has agreed deals to sign John Akinde on a free transfer after he left Crawley, fellow striker Patrick Agyemang on loan from Stevenage and Millwall midfielder Therry Racon.

It means Whittingham should at least be able to fill his bench after he could name only four substitutes in the midweek defeat by Scunthorpe.

Whittingham will still be without veteran forward David Connolly, who has a hamstring problem, but defenders Dan Butler (hamstring) and Ricardo Rocha (ankle) have been passed fit.

Midfielder Shaun Cooper will be facing the club for whom he made 240 appearances in seven years.