AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said summer recruit Lloyd Kelly was closing in on his first taste of Premier League action.
Kelly has been restricted by injury to just one appearance in the Carabao Cup since joining the Cherries from Bristol City.
The England under-21 international took a heavy blow to his ankle during a pre-season training session before sustaining a thigh injury.
But having recently returned to full training, Kelly made his comeback in the club’s Premier League Cup victory against Nottingham Forest on Friday.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the visit of Brighton tomorrow, Howe said: “Lloyd Kelly is getting closer. He played an hour in a reserve game last week and it’s whether we consider he is fit enough for the Premier League.
“We will have to wait and see. It was a muscle injury so we have to be very careful with him. If it’s not this game it will be the next.”
Howe will be forced to make at least one change for the visit of the Seagulls as Steve Cook will serve an automatic one-match suspension following his red card against Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Neither Jack Stacey nor Joshua King will be available for selection against Brighton due to their respective hamstring injuries.
