LONG-term injury victim Jason Tindall looks set to be handed a chance to prove his fitness to Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll.

The 27-year-old, who has been plagued by a persistent knee problem, has opened talks with the club regarding the possibility of signing a short-term contract.

Tindall has been restricted to just a handful of substitute appearances in the past 21 months - and did not figure at all for Cherries last season.

He has had four operations in an attempt to rectify the problem and went under the knife of the world's top knee surgeon Richard Steadman in February.

Tindall is one of 10 players whose existing contract is due to expire at the end of next month and O'Driscoll has confirmed the club is in negotiation with the Londoner.

O'Driscoll said: "We're trying to work something out with Jason that gives him a chance to prove his fitness.

"It may be a short-term deal that will allow him to get back and do his rehab, do pre-season and see if we can get him back to fitness within the next couple of months. We are trying to work something out that is suitable to both parties."

Tindall, who footed the bill himself for his most recent operation, is today due to return to Dr Steadman's Colorado-based clinic for a check-up and will spend five days in America.

He told the Daily Echo last night: "I've spoken to Sean and the chairman and we are hoping to come up with something which is agreeable to both parties.

"The knee is feeling good and I'm confident I'll be back within a few months, and, once I'm fully fit, we can then sit down and see where we go after that."

Meanwhile, O'Driscoll has also said that the other nine out-of-contract players have all been offered fresh terms, although he confirmed that non-contract goalkeeper Kevin Scriven is being released.

O'Driscoll added: "Everybody has been really realistic. Hopefully we can sort something out and they will all re-sign."

Although details of the players' respective offers are not known, Marcus Browning has already told the Daily Echo that he is in talks with the club regarding a two-year deal.

And Neil Young is understood to be entitled to a new one-year deal after fulfilling the conditions of an appearance-related clause in the 12-month contract he signed last summer.

Freed Cherries youth team striker Ryan Moss, one of 11 players released by the club, has been invited to join Kidderminster Harriers for pre-season.

Cherries' 10 out of contract players are Karl Broadhurst, Browning, Alan Connell, Steve Fletcher, Shaun Maher, Steve Purches, Dani Rodrigues, Tindall, Gareth Stewart and Young.