TYLER Adams is close to making a return to Cherries training after his surgery over the summer.

The US international had an operation on his back after featuring three times for his country at the Copa America, which aggravated a pre-existing back injury.

Since joining from Leeds United for a fee of around £20million in August 2023, Adams has played just four times for Cherries.

Speaking before the defeat at Leicester last weekend, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola provided a positive update on his recovery.

“I think Tyler will not be fit for Leicester game, but he's almost there,” he said.

“I think he's going to train fully with the team in the international break.”

(Image: Richard Crease) Iraola told the Daily Echo that the midfielder’s situation was similar to where Enes Unal and David Brooks were ahead of the last international break.

Both players had had summer surgeries, and while Brooks returned to the bench but did not feature against Everton in the game before the previous break, both returned to the matchday squad for the clash with Chelsea at Dean Court.

Unal has made four appearances off the bench since his return, with Brooks making his first appearance on Saturday off the bench against Leicester.

On Adams’ return, Iraola said: “I think he will train almost fully after the Leicester game because he's doing very well.

“He has done even some things with us.

“So, he will be after the Leicester game for me it will be like almost, we will have no injured players, someone who will start training normally with the team.

“And from there it's a matter of how long it takes to take the rhythm of the others because obviously he has been out for a lot of time, for some months.

“[It is] the same process, I think that Enes and Brooksy are doing, but three or four weeks later.”

(Image: Richard Crease) On the international break itself, and what the focus will be for Bournemouth, the Cherries boss said he is anticipating losing around half of the team to their national teams.

“We will use it to recover physically the ones that have played more and to try to improve and give more chances to the ones that have played less minutes,” Iraola said.

“I hope we can recover also Tyler, and have all the team available.

“It's good that we are not having injuries and I hope we can continue building in the things that we are doing that I think overall they are good.”

Cherries will face early title contenders Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in their first game back after the break.