MIDFIELDER Andrew Surman urged Cherries to stay “mentally focused” during football’s COVID-19 shutdown and added: “Fingers crossed it can be resolved sooner rather than later.”

The Cherries vice-captain revealed how the squad had been sent challenges to keep fitness levels up while training from home, having not worked together as a group since March 13.

The next Premier League shareholders’ meeting regarding ‘Project Restart’ is set to take place on Monday – after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest advisory regarding lockdown and social distancing.

When Cherries will next play a game of competitive football, or even return to training is yet to be decided.

But experienced Surman is fully aware he must keep his concentration.

Asked how the squad had been staying in touch throughout the period of isolation, the 33-year-old said: “We have a players group.

“The players themselves, whether they are staying in Bournemouth or they have gone back to wherever they are from, will have a good family unit.

“We have had quite a few fitness things sent home and a bit of competition on watt bikes and runs just to keep everyone competitive, which has been good.

“The manager has tried to keep us focused – don’t let yourselves get into a false sense of security where you think the season is over.

“If they suddenly turn around and say ‘you are back in next week, you have got three weeks to get fit and the season is back on’, we have got everything to play for.

“It is just trying to keep mentally focused on the job at hand.”

Cherries currently find themselves 18th in the Premier League table, inside the relegation zone on goal difference with nine games of their campaign remaining.

Eddie Howe’s men have not featured in the top flight since March 7, a 2-1 defeat to runaway league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.

Asked how the boss had been throughout the global pandemic, Surman added: “He has kept in contact with all the players.

“He has phoned around and just checked on everyone, which I am not surprised about because that is the sort of person he is, not just a manager.

“Having spoken to him, he is just as frustrated as everyone else at the way things are going at the moment and I am sure he is missing being out on the training ground.

“He is probably no different to any of us. Fingers crossed it can be resolved sooner rather than later.”