CHERRIES have sent their well wishes to former academy graduate Jayden Stockley after it was confirmed the striker had tested positive for coronavirus.

The 26-year-old, now at Preston North End, confirmed on the Deepdale club’s website he was asymptomatic and the positive test result “came as a complete shock”.

The EFL reported 10 positive tests from eight clubs in the Championship on Saturday.

Poole-born Stockley started his youth career at Cherries before leaving for Aberdeen in 2016.

Eddie Howe famously had to ask for permission from Lytchett Minster School for Stockley to be part of his squad as a 16-year-old.

Speaking about the positive test result, the former Exeter frontman said: “It came as a complete shock.

“I got a call from the doc when I came back from training. I felt brilliant in training, put a good session in and his number came up.

“We were aware we would get a call if our test was positive and I was thinking ‘no, surely not’, but he told me and it was a surreal moment. You feel like you are untouchable and you are going to ride through it.

“You can send yourself a bit crazy thinking ‘where did I catch it’. Because we are from down south we have not been down there, we have stayed in our house up here and not mixed with anyone.

“The supermarket has been pretty much the only place we have been, other than our walks in the country, but we haven’t come into contact with anyone. You could think, ‘when and why?’, but the best thing is to be as sensible as possible now and listen to all the advice on what to do.”

Following the news, Cherries posted on their official Twitter account: “Back out there soon, Jayden.”