CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe says striker Tokelo Rantie may go out on loan once he has returned to full fitness.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined since sustaining a heavy blow to his shin during the first half of Cherries’ FA Cup win at Birmingham in January.

South African Rantie returned to his homeland after becoming injured but is now back in Britain and building up his fitness.

And Howe admitted he would be open to letting the former club-record signing get games elsewhere.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “TK is back and is just starting his first steps towards training again.

“He had a nasty injury but we have had the scans checked and he has got no problems now. It’s a case of building up his fitness.

“There is not much time left in the season but if he can get himself fit, we might look at a loan, if he wanted to.

“It would be a chance for him to go out and get some games somewhere. But we will wait and see.”

Rantie, whose four-year deal expires in the summer of 2017, was not named in Cherries’ 25-man Premier League squad at the start of February.