Bournemouth injury update: Semenyo, Kluivert & Gannon-Doak set to miss Sunderland trip

Bournemouth travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday facing the possibility of being without several key attacking players. Andoni Iraola described the recent international break as “a bad one” for the club after a string of fitness setbacks disrupted his squad. The Cherries were noticeably short-handed in the 2–2 draw with West Ham United, and early indications suggest the injury list may not shrink in time for the weekend.

Ben Gannon-Doak, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo all missed last weekend’s fixture, with varying degrees of severity. Bournemouth remain optimistic that not all three will be unavailable, but internally the message has been cautious: each case is being handled day-to-day, and decisions will likely be made very close to kick-off.

Below is the latest on every Bournemouth player who could miss Saturday’s match against Sunderland — including clear potential return dates based on current club guidance.

The summer signing from Liverpool suffered a serious hamstring injury early in Scotland’s win over Denmark and has since undergone surgery. Bournemouth initially assessed whether conservative treatment was possible, but the decision was eventually made to operate. He is expected to miss several months.

Potential return date: March–April 2026

Kluivert missed the West Ham match with an abductor issue, and despite avoiding a major tear, his availability for the Sunderland trip remains uncertain. The club say he is “a doubt at this early stage” and must prove he can complete full training before being considered.

Potential return date: Uncertain — late December at earliest

The former Sunderland loanee returned early from Ghana duty due to an ankle problem he had already been managing before travelling. Iraola made it clear the issue was not new, but the attacker did not make the squad last weekend. While the injury isn’t believed to be serious, Bournemouth are wary of rushing him.

Potential return date: Possible for Sunderland, but more likely early December

Bournemouth’s resurgence this season has been built on dynamism in wide areas, and losing multiple ball-carriers at once has an obvious tactical impact. Without Semenyo’s power, Kluivert’s direct running or Gannon-Doak’s unpredictability, Iraola’s side lose their most effective transitional threats. That was evident at West Ham, where Bournemouth struggled to sustain attacks in wide zones despite a strong overall performance.

Although some supporters point toward squad depth as a solution, the nuance is that Bournemouth’s attacking profile is uniquely tied to this trio. Iraola’s system relies heavily on penetrative movement and beating first-phase pressure — qualities these players provide in different ways. Replacing like-for-like is difficult without compromising the team’s identity.

If Bournemouth are forced to travel to Sunderland without all three, the tactical approach may shift. Iraola could choose a narrower midfield or lean more on Evanilson’s link play, but the drop-off in natural width is significant. In a match that requires control and tempo away from home, the availability of even one of these attackers would alter the outlook considerably.

Bournemouth will make late fitness calls ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at the Stadium of Light. Semenyo is the closest to returning, while Kluivert faces a race against time and Gannon-Doak is unavailable long-term. Iraola’s pre-match briefing is expected to clarify who has completed training and who will miss out.

👉 Which absence hurts Bournemouth most — Semenyo’s power, Kluivert’s creativity, or Gannon-Doak’s pace?