FORMER Cherries boss Lee Bradbury has labelled current youngster Brennan Camp an “absolute warrior of a player” whilst admitting that he was keen to keep the defender at Eastleigh next season.

Bradbury was appointed as Spitfires chief at the beginning of March, marking the former Pompey striker’s first full-time role as a manager since departing Cherries in 2012.

21-year-old Camp, who is out of contract at Cherries this summer, has spent the last three months of the season on loan at the Silverlake Stadium, with his arrival at the National League club briefly pre-dating the appointment of Bradbury as manager.

Thanks to both his ability and versatility, Camp has quickly won admirers with his performances, including his temporary boss.

In his final game for the Spitfires, Camp produced two assists in a marauding display down the right-flank, but during previous games, he had been deployed as a central defender.

In total, Camp made 15 appearances for the Spitfires, scoring once.

Whilst as of writing Cherries are yet to submit their retained list, Bradbury hinted that the Dorset club had offered Camp a new deal.

Aside from fleeting loan spells with Portland United, Dorchester Town, and Poole Town combined with two stints under Mark Molesley at Weymouth, Camp has two senior appearances for Cherries under his belt.

Both games came last season, against Norwich in the EFL Cup and Yeovil in the FA Cup.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bradbury effused praise for the Scottish youth international, stating: “He’s an absolute warrior of a player.

“He's tough, he's strong, he's quick, he's decent on the ball.

“I believe he's reliable. Wherever you play him, right back, right wing-back, right side centre-half of a three or in a two, he is reliable and he will give absolutely everything for the team.

“They're hard to come by, those types of lads.

“I would absolutely love to sign him long-term, but obviously I think he's been offered something at Bournemouth still.

“But there'll be conversations going on over the next few weeks that will be important ones.”