The Cherries head north for Saturday’s third-round tie with manager Andoni Iraola making a stark admission
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola(Image: Getty Images)
Bournemouth will head to St James’ Park for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie with Newcastle United without the ‘irreplacable’ Antoine Semenyo – and injury victim Justin Kluivert.
Winger Semenyo left the Vitality Stadium ahead of a £65m move to Manchester City following their 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday night, with the 26-year-old grabbing an emotional late winner for Andoni Iraola’s side.
The Spaniard admits it will be impossible to replace someone of Semenyo’s quality in the January transfer window, but the blow of his departure was magnified by the fact forward Kuivert has had to undergo surgery on a knee injury.
That means Bournemouth will be without two key attacking players when they face Eddie Howe’s men on Tyneside for a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
“He’s a big miss for us, he’s a player that you cannot replace,” Andoni said of Semenyo.
“He’s an incredible player. I don’t know how they (Man City) are going to use him.
“He’s a player that has been improving every single season with us but even before (that), because he has gone through lower divisions, stepping up every single season, and I think he’s ready to do it again. I hope he does it.”
The win over Spurs ended a miserable run for Bournemouth of 11 games without a win, stretching back to late October, but the double blow of losing Semenyo and Kluivert took the shine off the victory.
“To lose in the same week Justin and Antoine for a club like us is a big thing,” said Iraola.
“I know the club is working and we will try to sign new players but it’s very difficult to replace this level of players.”
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