AGE is no concern for fearless teenager Jayden Stockley.

The schoolboy is believed to have become Cherries’ second youngest debutant at 16 years and 21 days old after he made an 11-minute cameo appearance from the bench at Northampton Town on Tuesday night.

Stockley, who stands an imposing 6ft 3ins, had already featured among Eddie Howe’s substitutes once before – for the clash against Burton Albion in September.

But after Cherries’ injury crisis worsened on Monday, Stockley found himself thrust into the limelight again, alongside 17-year-olds Danny Ings and goalkeeper Dan Thomas, for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash at Sixfields.

And after impressing during his brief spell on Tuesday, the Lytchett Minster School pupil, who is named in the Cherries squad for tomorrow’s League Two clash against Chesterfield at Dean Court (3pm), admitted he is already learning fast under boss Howe.

Stockley, who watched Lee Bradbury miss a late penalty for Cherries at Sixfields, told the Echo: “It was mixed emotions, because I came on and then thought we had won it with the penalty.

“Then they went up the other end and scored theirs.

“But it was unbelievable just to step out on the pitch. Just from that game I’ve learned that you can’t just be the big man – you have to be a bit cuter than that.

“And you have to be so quick with your decision-making. I couldn’t believe how fast the game was – I felt like I had played 90 minutes out there when I came off. It was so intense.”

Stockley has impressed Howe during a series of showcase performances for Cherries’ under-16s, the Poole-born striker notching seven goals in his past four appearances.

“I’ve been scoring goals for the youth team and the under-16s and it’s given me a lot of confidence,” he added.

“I’m not scared about playing at all – I just want to bang the goals in. That’s what I am all about, scoring goals.

“At the end of the day, you have to get on with your job – it doesn’t matter how old you are. There are no excuses. If Eddie thinks I am ready to come in now then I’m ready.”