EDDIE Howe praised the mental strength of Jordan Lee after the young defender returned to loan club Torquay United following a heart scare.

Lee has not featured for the Gulls since early August, the 20-year-old having been ruled out indefinitely due to chest pains.

He subsequently underwent a series of tests and was then allowed to resume training at Cherries, where he gradually rebuilt his fitness.

Lee last week returned to National League strugglers Torquay but was not included in the matchday squad for their FA Cup defeat to Aldershot Town.

Head coach Gary Owers had admitted beforehand that the Devon club "may need to have a longer look and assess his level of fitness".

Reflecting on the youngster's return to his loan side, Cherries boss Howe told the Daily Echo: "I'm delighted for Jordan. It's been a really tough spell and you don't wish that on any young player.

"I'm really pleased to see him back, playing his football and enjoying himself.

"It's one of those things where you don't want to place too much drama on his plate because you don't want him to think too much at this stage, you just want him to play his football in a normal way.

"Fair play to him for showing the mental strength to do that."

Lee, who has featured twice for Cherries in the FA Cup, comes from Ferndown and has been on the club's books since he was 12.