Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has admitted that he remains unsure as to whether midfielder Harry Arter will play for the club again before the end of the season or be fit for the European Championship.

The 26-year-old has not played since injuring his Achilles during the first half of the Premier League game against Southampton then coming off at the break.

Further treatment

Arter reported for international duty days later but had to leave the squad before the games against Switzerland and Slovakia in order to receive further treatment for the problem.

It has since proven more serious than initially thought and Martin O’Neill suggested on Thursday that the Bournemouth star could do with playing again before the end of the season in order to provide reassurance that he is on course to being fit enough to feature in France if required.

Howe has acknowledged that making the squad for the European Championships is a major priority for his player but said that the Achilles problem is something that needs to be treated with at least one eye on ensuring Arter is not hindered by it again next season.

“Harry has improved but his injury is a niggly one,” he said, “and we need to make sure we protect his long-term future. We just hope that he’s fit beyond this season and of course this summer is a big one for him. We will wait and see what happens.”

Stoke City's Jon Walters, faces a late fitness test before today's game against Sunderland with the striker rated 50-50 after having largely recovered from recent knee surgery. Marc Wilson misses the game after suffering a setback in a training game on Tuesday evening.