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Callum Wilson had scored five goals in his previous four matches

Striker Callum Wilson's knee injury is a "huge blow" to Bournemouth, says manager Eddie Howe.

Wilson, 23, was carried off on a stretcher 17 minutes into the Cherries' 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday after injuring his right knee.

He had scored five goals in his first six Premier League matches, prompting talk of a first England call-up. external-link

Howe said: "It doesn't look good. He's in a brace, he's on crutches and he's in a lot of pain."

Wilson was hurt in an innocuous-looking incident involving Stoke defender Philipp Wollscheid.

He attempted to play on after receiving treatment but went down 30 seconds after returning to the pitch.

Howe said: "He took a whack to the knee, thought he was OK to carry on but then collapsed."

Bournemouth are already without their two most expensive signings - full-back Tyrone Mings for the rest of the season and winger Max Gradel for six months - after the pair both suffered serious knee injuries in the same game, against Leicester last month.

Howe said: "It looks like it could be another serious knee injury. The players have had that three times this season, losing key players with bad injuries."