Bournemouth skipper Francis out for season with knee injury

(Reuters) - Bournemouth defender Simon Francis will miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Wednesday's 5-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League club said.

Francis was carried off after twisting his knee and scans confirmed he had torn the ligament and would be out for six to nine months.

"We are devastated to have lost Simon to a serious knee injury," Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the club's website.

"It's a huge blow to lose our captain and someone who has performed so well and consistently for the team over a long period of time."

Bournemouth, who travel to Manchester United on Sunday, are 12th in the table with 26 points from 19 games.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair)