CHERRIES have turned down an informal approach from Premiership big guns West Ham to take Richard Hughes to Upton Park on a month's loan.

Hammers' former Cherries boss Harry Redknapp is understood to have targeted the Scottish under-21 international to help solve his crippling injury crisis.

It is believed Redknapp wanted Hughes to make his Premiership debut against his former club Arsenal on Saturday after making an enquiry for the 21-year-old midfielder last week.

But Dean Court boss Sean O'Driscoll - who confirmed the Hammers had made an informal approach - was reluctant to release Hughes with Cherries still not safe from relegation.

O'Driscoll put Hughes in the picture after training yesterday as details of the Hammers' interest began to unfold following Cherries' 2-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday.

And in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Hughes said today: "Sean told me what he knew and it appears the details are very sketchy at the moment.

"It was very flattering indeed to hear that a Premiership club were interested in me because it's every player's dream to play at the highest level.

"But I am under contract to Bournemouth and all I am focusing on at the moment is helping us get 50 points and then see how far up the table we can finish.

"I wouldn't say it was unsettling to be linked with West Ham because it is a big boost for morale. It is also a credit to the whole team because everyone has been playing so well recently.

"If there had been any possibility of playing against Arsenal it would have been fairytale stuff, but my mind is fully focused on playing for Bournemouth against Rotherham tomorrow."

After having his move for Hughes blocked, Redknapp was forced to field a makeshift midfield at Highbury where the Hammers crashed to a 3-0 defeat thanks to Sylvain Wiltord's hat-trick.

And with Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and John Moncur all nursing injuries, it is believed Redknapp had also pencilled Hughes in to line up against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Redknapp is a regular visitor to Dean Court and is understood to have made his move after Kevin Bond, a member of the Hammers scouting staff, watched Hughes in Cherries' 2-1 defeat by Bristol Rovers last week.

And with transfer deadline day looming and a number of Cherries players catching the eye recently, O'Driscoll knows he could have a battle trying to keep his squad together.

O'Driscoll said: "It's out of my hands and not up to me. All I can do is create an atmosphere within the club which encourages the players to improve both individually and as a team.

"That's what we are endeavouring to do and if they leave, they leave here better players and better for the experience of working under me, Peter Grant and the rest of the staff.

"We are here to improve them and they all want to play at the highest level possible. I've got no problems with that because that's ambition and I'm the same. We all want to be better and get better.

"But nobody can ever rest on their laurels and every player must keep learning from now until the end of their career."