Cherries: Daniels to play through the pain barrier for Howe (with video) (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Daniels to play through the pain barrier for Howe (with video)

2:39pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Latest Sport By Ian Wadley

BOSS Eddie Howe is hoping in-form defender Charlie Daniels can continue to play through the pain barrier to boost Cherries' promotion bid.

Manager Howe reported that Daniels had been suffering from a foot problem which hampered his progress during the club's past four matches.

A scan revealed no serious damage but Howe said the injury had been causing discomfort for Cherries' attacking left-back in recent weeks.

Howe is planning to assess the fitness of the former Orient star before deciding whether to select him to face Crewe at Dean Court on Saturday (3pm).

He told the Daily Echo: “Charlie has been carrying an injury for the past four games. It gradually got to the point where, before Hartlepool, we wanted to get it scanned to check that there was no serious damage to his foot.

“He has just got a slight issue with the outside of his foot. He has taken a couple of blows on it in recent games and it has steadily got worse.

“We had the scan and it came back and showed no damage at all, so playing is not going to do him any further damage, but it is uncomfortable.

“Thankfully, he battled through and put in a really good performance at Hartlepool, considering he wasn't able to express himself fully physically.

“We are hopeful we will be able to get him through this run of games and, when we do get a free week, it will be good to rest him.”

Howe also reported that Simon Francis has a tight hamstring, with full-back an area where Cherries are short on obvious cover.

Asked about the possibility of recalling Jon Meades from his loan at AFC Wimbledon, Howe said: “He is getting games and doing well at AFC Wimbledon and I think that is where he needs to be in terms of his current development.

“We would only call him back if we were going to bring him back into the fold to play him. But he is always there if we need him.”

Howe said that midfielder Eunan O'Kane and winger Josh McQuoid were both aiming to overcome calf complaints.

Cherries: (from) Jalal, Francis, Seaborne, Elphick, Daniels, Fogden, Hughes, McQuoid, Arter, O'Kane, Pugh, Grabban, Tubbs, Pitman, Fletcher, McDermott, Partington, Cook, Allsop, James.

Crewe: (from) Martin, Davis, Ellis, Dugdale, Mellor, Murphy, Osman, Inman, Tootle, Moore, Pogba, Leitch-Smith, Clayton, Ray, Colclough, Daniels, Robertson, Phillips.