Julian Araujo. _(Image: Richard Crease)_
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JULIAN Araujo is ‘very close’ to a return to the AFC Bournemouth match day squad, with Andoni Iraola expecting the right back to be involved for the trip to West Ham at the weekend.
Araujo underwent surgery on his hamstring in November after coming off injured against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
[At the start of March, Iraola confirmed that the Mexican had been given the all-clear to return to training from his surgery.](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/24972659.julian-araujo-returns-afc-bournemouth-squad-injury/)
Marcos Senesi, who had a similar injury and surgery, received the all-clear a week after Araujo but returned to start against Manchester City at the weekend.
Araujo, though, is yet to be involved in a match day squad since returning to training.
Asked if he was close to a return, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “He was one week in front of Marcos through all the process.
“He got injured, I think also one week before or something like this, and has been a very, very similar process.
“But it's true that the first moments where he started training with the group, he didn't feel fully confident, so we stopped a little bit.
“But it's true that now he's training normally and tomorrow maybe it's early, but if not, probably West Ham, I think he's going to be involved and everything is looking good.”