Eddie Howe admits 'huge worry' over double Bournemouth injury blow before Chelsea cup quarter-final

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe admits the injuries to Charlie Daniels and Joshua King are "huge worries" as his side prepare to face Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, while he has also explained striker Callum Wilson's unexpected absence from the Premier League meeting with Liverpool.

The Cherries saw their winless run extended to six matches in emphatic fashion on Sunday (17 December), with Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all netting during a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Jurgen Klopp's side that propelled them back into the top four.

Such a heavy defeat was exacerbated by injuries to left-back Daniels - who was given a torrid time by the sensational Salah - and formerly prolific forward King, who exited in the 56th and 31st minute respectively.

A concerned and frustrated Howe confirmed after the full-time whistle at the Vitality Stadium that the duo were suffering from groin and hamstring problems respectively, although insisted it was too early to assess how much time each player would miss.

However, both must surely now be considered as huge doubts for Wednesday night, when struggling Bournemouth take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a bid to reach the last four of English football's secondary cup competition for the first time in their history.

Having already played Manchester United and Liverpool in back-to-back fixtures, the south coast outfit also travel to face dominant leaders Manchester City in their last outing before Christmas. They host resurgent West Ham United on Boxing Day and entertain Everton four days later before going to Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 January.

"We don't know the situation with either player, it's a huge worry though regarding Charlie Daniels and Joshua King. It was a hamstring injury with King and a groin injury for Daniels so we're not sure at the moment," said Howe.

Indeed, he confessed to reporters, at his post-match press conference, that he there had not been many times he had felt so despondent after a match during his two separate reigns as Bournemouth boss.

Bournemouth were without long-term absentees Adam Federici, Tyrone Mings and Brad Smith against Liverpool, while top scorer Wilson - who has scored four goals in nine appearances since returning after nine months out with a second cruciate knee ligament injury in October - also sat out after receiving an injection for what Howe insists is a minor issue.

"Callum Wilson had an injection in his knee for a really minute problem," he added. "It's nothing serious."

In-form Chelsea, who have made successive fourth-round League Cup exits since winning the competition for the fifth time in 2015, were boosted by the return of Alvaro Morata for Saturday's 1-0 win over Southampton - their eighth victory in 10 top-flight games - and also welcomed back Danny Drinkwater and Michy Batshuayi at Huddersfield Town last week.

However, David Luiz is not fit to play at present due to a "big inflammation" in his knee that an animated Antonio Conte insisted on Friday was a genuine issue and not being used as any sort of cover for lingering bad blood between the pair, who reportedly endured a bust-up following the 3-0 Champions League loss in Rome in October.