Iraola casts concern over Kluivert’s fitness ahead of Ipswich clash for Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, addressed the media in a press conference ahead of their upcoming match against Ipswich Town on Wednesday.

The Cherries are looking to snap a four-match winless streak in the league that has seen them settle in mid-table, while relegation-threatened Ipswich are eager for a victory to aid their climb up the standings. Iraola provided an update on the squad’s condition during what has been a demanding week.

“We’re still uncertain. We have training this afternoon, and it’s been less than 48 hours since the FA Cup match against Manchester City,” he stated.

“A few players emerged with some minor issues—just the usual fatigue. I anticipate that they will be fit to play.”

“Justin (Kluivert) is probably the player we’re most concerned about, as he finished the game against City with some difficulties. We’ll assess him today to see if he’s fit enough to contribute, even if just for a few minutes against Ipswich.”

“I’m hopeful that the rest will be ready for tomorrow.”

Defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen will be back from suspension for this week’s fixture, and Iraola underscored their importance to the team.

“It’s great to have them available again. They’ve been performing at a high level and are in good form. While we might be a bit lacking in the attacking department now, it’s challenging to field the perfect starting eleven, so we need to adapt from match to match.”

Both players have attracted interest from clubs such as Real Madrid and Liverpool in recent months; however, Iraola declined to comment on the transfer speculation.

“I don’t discuss that. I believe it’s unnecessary to provide comments about other clubs.”