CHERRIES star James Hayter faces an anxious wait to discover the full extent of the knee injury he suffered at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday November 13.

Hayter was stretchered off midway through the second half after taking a blow to his left knee during a block tackle with Rovers defender Matt Gadsby.

The 25-year-old has been told he may have damaged the medial ligaments but is due to have the joint scanned in the next 24 hours to ascertain the full extent of the injury. Hayter, speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo last night, said: "It's not been too bad today, but it's still a bit sore. I've been in for some treatment and I've had ice on it.

"It started to feel a bit better after the game, but I could feel it during the night and also getting in and out of the car this morning.

"I've had to keep it elevated today and I'm going to have it scanned either tomorrow or on Tuesday so I will know more then."

Hayter, who is expected to be out for at least a fortnight, is an ever-present this season and has missed just six out of Cherries' last 183 league and cup games.

He added: "I'm gutted. I've had two hernia operations but as they were both in the summer, I only missed a couple of games at the end of the season.

"I've also missed the odd game here and there due to illness, but I've been very fortunate with injuries and hardly missed any games.

"I can't remember not being involved in a game at the stadium since it was opened - and I'm not too sure where the players sit to watch to be honest!"

Hayter, voted October player of the month for League One, has been in a rich vein of form this season, his 14 goals making him one of the country's top marksmen.

Sean O'Driscoll, speaking following Cherries' 1-1 draw in the first round of the FA Cup at The Lawn, said: "James has tweaked his ligaments so he'll be missing for maybe two or three weeks.

"We're lucky we've got one or two strikers, but James is one of the top goalscorers in the country so we're going to miss him. It's a blow and hopefully we can get him back as soon as possible.

"Alan (Connell) and Derek (Holmes) are champing at the bit and hopefully Dani (Rodrigues) will be back next week so it's an area where we've got a bit of cover. Hopefully somebody will take the mantle and grab a few goals for us."