EDDIE Howe is hoping Adam Smith will be "back soon" as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

The full-back was forced off after 64 minutes of the 3-1 defeat at Leicester City last month after sustaining the problem and has since had two scans.

Jack Stacey deputised for Smith to make his Premier League debut in victory over Everton on Sunday, but Howe is hopeful Smith's setback is not as bad as first feared.

He told afcbTV: "Adam's got a hamstring problem.

"We first thought it was going to be a long-term absence. We're now hopeful it's not going to be, but with hamstring injuries it's difficult to tell exactly what he will miss.

"So we hope to get him back soon."