Eli Junior Kroupi's debut campaign in the Premier League won an array of plaudits, but the start to his second season in England's top-flight is set to be delayed due to injury.
The precocious forward broke the Premier League record for most goals in a debut season by a teenager as he netted 13 for Bournemouth last term, eclipsing the previous landmark figure of 12 which was set by Robbie Fowler in 1993/94 and Robbie Keane in 1999/00.
Kroupi's goals propelled Bournemouth into the UEFA Europa League as the Cherries achieved European qualification for the first time in the club's history, and the French forward was expected to maintain his compelling trajectory after breaching the top 10 of the prestigious Golden Boy rankings.
However, Kroupi suffered a freak foot injury during Bournemouth's pre-season training camp in Austria, meaning Marco Rose will be without his star marksman for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
We've taken a look at the earliest possible date Kroupi could return to first-team action.
When is Eli Junior Kroupi expected to return from injury?
The initial diagnosis on Kroupi's foot injury suggested the French forward faced three to four months out.
He subsequently underwent successful surgery on the fractured fifth metatarsal and is now in the early stages of his rehabilitation.
Bournemouth are optimistic that the earliest Kroupi Jr could return is towards the end of October.
Following the three-week international window, the Cherries face Chelsea, Sunderland and Manchester United before concluding the month with the visit of Leeds United on 31st October.
If Kroupi hasn't returned by the time Rose's side encounter Daniel Farke Whites, it's likely he will be available for selection after the November international break - starting with a home fixture against Nottingham Forest on the weekend of 21st November.
