Cherries turn to Petterson

Neil Moss spent three months on loan at Bournemouth

By Mark Mitchener BBC Sport Online

Bournemouth have signed much-travelled Australian keeper Andy Petterson on a month's contract, as they look to recover from a horrific run of injuries to their goalkeepers.

Petterson, 33, had been a free agent since his month-to-month deal at Brighton recently ended, after nine appearances for the Seagulls this season.

He has previously served Luton, Charlton and Portsmouth - as well as spending time on loan at Ipswich, Bradford, Plymouth, Colchester, Wolves, Torquay and West Brom.

The Cherries have also made enquiries about a possible loan deal for Tottenham's third-choice keeper Lars Hirschfeld.

But they will both be hoping to avoid the keeper jinx which has hit Dean Court this season.

8 August: First-choice Gareth Stewart damaged ankle ligaments two days before the start of the season and was sidelined for three months.

Highly-rated young Reading keeper Jamie Ashdown joined the Cherries on loan - but managed just two games before suffering a knee injury at the end of August and returned to Berkshire.

10 September: Chris Tardif, on a season-long loan from Portsmouth, suffered a facial injury in the Worthington Cup against Brentford. With no other keeper fit, midfielder Marcus Browning kept goal for the last hour of that game.

With Stewart, Tardif and Ashdown out, lifelong Bournemouth fan Neil Moss rejoined them on loan from Southampton, and stayed at Dean Court from mid-September to mid-December. He was unable to stay any longer as League rules prevent players over 23 spending more than three months on loan at one club.

17 December: With Moss back at St Mary's, fit-again Stewart made his first appearance of the season in the FA Cup second round replay against Southend, but it only lasted 17 minutes as he was stretchered off with a fractured fibula.

Stewart injury blow

21 December: Having replaced Stewart against Southend, Tardif started against Hull on Saturday, but was stretchered off after 15 minutes later with concussion. Browning took over in goal again, and kept a clean sheet.

Having spent the night in hospital, Tardif has learned that he did not suffer a fractured skull - but still awaits the all-clear from a neurosurgeon before he can resume playing.

With striker Alan Connell and defender Shaun Maher already ruled out for the season, manager Sean O'Driscoll will surely be hoping for an injury-free Christmas.