Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is set to be out for an extended period following back surgery.
Adams, who transferred to Bournemouth from Leeds for over £20m last summer, had an injury-ridden first season with the Cherries, limiting him to just four Premier League appearances.
He later represented the USA in the Copa America.
Sources indicated that Bournemouth had advised the USA team to handle Adams with care.
Nevertheless, he participated in all three group stage matches, a pre-tournament friendly against Brazil, and the full 90 minutes of the final group match against Uruguay before the USA’s early exit from the competition.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola stated that Adams aggravated a back issue that began at the end of the domestic season, and surgery was the only solution.
“He finished the season with an injury in his back,” said the Spaniard.
“He wanted to play Copa America because it was very important for him, but he had restrictions and was still in pain, so two days after they were knocked out, he had surgery.
“He is out for some time. It is difficult to say how long but he won’t be fit for the start of the season. But September? October? I don’t know.”
Asked why Bournemouth did not stop Adams from going on international duty, Iraola said: “It was not our choice. It is a decision for the nations, who are allowed to select players, and he wanted to play thinking the injury would get better but he felt it was getting worse.”
Adams has already started his rehabilitation and is with Bournemouth on their current tour of California, which features games with Wrexham in Santa Barbara (00:00 BST on Sunday morning) and Arsenal in Carson (03:30 BST on Thursday).
Iraola does not know if Solanke will stay or go
The good news, so far, for Bournemouth is that star striker Dominic Solanke remains with the club and is part of the squad that will face Wrexham.
It has been reported the former Liverpool forward has a £65m release clause in his contract that can only be activated by certain clubs.
Iraola does not want to lose Solanke, who scored an impressive 21 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the Premier League, which led the 26-year-old to finish fourth in the Golden Boot standings.
However, the Bournemouth boss is adopting a philosophical approach.
“Dom is happy,” he said. “He has come back in very good shape, is training very well and the relationship he has with his team-mates is very good.
“But the market is open. You cannot say he is going to stay or that he is going to leave because we don’t know. In the end, it is something you cannot control.”