Bournemouth have confirmed that midfielder Lewis Cook will be out for six to nine months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Cook, who has appeared in 13 of Bournemouth’s 15 Premier League matches this season and made his senior England debut in March, suffered the injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Further assessment and scans on Wednesday confirmed the extent of the damage to Cook’s right knee, and he will now be sidelined until well into 2019.
“We are all devastated for Lewis,” manager Eddie Howe said in a statement on Bournemouth’s official website.
“It is a huge blow to a very talented player who has been a very important part of our side over the last 18 months.
“But Lewis is a strong character who only has to look around our dressing room for inspiration of how an injury like this is merely a setback and to know that he can come back better than ever.
“He will have the full support and love of everyone at the club throughout the next few months as he receives the very best treatment and rehabilitation possible.”
Cook, 21, has developed steadily at Bournemouth since joining the club from Leeds United in a deal rising to £10 million in the summer of 2016, making 56 appearances in all competitions.
England manager Gareth Southgate is an admirer, and handed Cook his first senior England call-up in November 2017 before bringing him on as a substitute against Italy at Wembley in March.
Cook was one of five players named on Southgate’s standby list for the 2018 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.
