AFC Bournemouth Iraola bemoaned his side’s injury luck but hailed his players’ versatility in playing out of position.
Whilst Cherries have not been the most injury-stricken of Premier League teams this season they have been inflicted with a concentration of issues impacting specific positions.
At the start of the campaign Iraola had limited central-midfield options, before injuries ravaged his full-back selection, leading to winger Dango Ouattara moonlighting at left-back.
Now the reverse has happened, with left-back Milos Kerkez operating as a winger in Cherries’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United after Luis Sinisterra was forced off with a reoccurrence of a hamstring issue.
Iraola shared to the Daily Echo: “We talked about this pre-match.
“We started with the midfielders, then fullbacks. Now it's about the wing players.
“I think we have players who can play well in different positions. And I think they are doing well.”
Sinisterra joins fellow wide players Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo in the treatment room, with only Dango Ouattara and Romain Faivre remaining in terms of fit wingers.
Justin Kluivert started the campaign on the wing but has subsequently been entrusted with a more central role, whilst David Brooks and Jaidon Anthony are on loan at Championship sides Southampton and Leeds United respectively.
Talking points from yesterday's #afcb game. Too much has already been said about the penalties so I sidestepped that discussion - but still plenty more.
— Jack Tanner 🏴 (@EchoSportJack) April 14, 2024
Even managed to make a reference to the Dark Knight Rises in there - it makes sense, I promise you:https://t.co/ruGmcby7t1
Development squad starlet Michael Dacosta Gonzalez was involved with the first team at the weekend, watching on from the bench as an unused substitute.
Whilst Dacosta Gonzalez has been involved in previous match day squads, he is yet to make his debut for AFC Bournemouth.
Cherries return to action this weekend when they travel north to face Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Kick-off at Villa Park is 3pm on Sunday, April 23.
AFC Bournemouth sit 12th in the Premier League table with 42 points from 32 games.
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