Written By Andy Jones (@TheRamblingHam)
AFC Bournemouth’s Josh King has tested positive for coronavirus ahead of this weekend’s Championship clash with league leaders Reading.
Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall confirmed the news that his Norwegian forward had indeed tested positive, despite having originally tested negative on his return from the international break.
He said: “[King] started feeling a few symptoms on Wednesday and was re-tested again on Thursday and tested positive.
“It’s really frustrating, especially going into the block of games we are going to be going into now, when your squad is going to be so important to you.”
The club performed 60 tests on Thursday, with King the only player to come back with a positive result.
This now means the 28-year-old will have to self-isolate for 10 days and will miss the Cherries’ upcoming fixtures against Reading, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham.
The Cherries boss added: “The only one that had tested positive was Josh which is unfortunate for us, it’s frustrating but with what is going on in the world it’s something that’s out there, with many players and people having contracted it and there is nothing we can do about it unfortunately.”
Meanwhile, Tindall remained in an upbeat mood ahead of this weekend’s clash and expects Dominic Solanke to keep providing the clinical edge in King’s absence.
He said: “Dominic Solanke is a player that I rate very very highly, I think he is a fantastic striker, he possesses some great strengths and I do believe he has a very, very bright future ahead of him.
“I think he has delivered consistent performances, he’s looked really really sharp the last two weeks in training, he’s scored a lot of goals and I think once Dom scores 2 or 3 goals consecutively then I think he will go on and he’ll get a hatful this season.”
There are no other selection concerns for the Cherries coach, Lewis Cook has recovered from a gash on his leg that he suffered in the victory over Birmingham last time out, whilst club captain Steve Cook is “chomping at the bit” after serving a one match suspension.
Bournemouth host Championship leaders Reading on Saturday at 12.30pm, and could go top by a point if they overcome The Royals at the Vitality Stadium, a target the Tindall is setting his sights on.
He said: “It would be great, for every club in every division that’s where they want to be, they want to be top of the league and fighting to achieve that and we’re no different to a lot of teams in the Championship, but we have got that opportunity tomorrow.
“If we beat Reading and go a point above them we go top, for how long that may be, who knows? But that’s certainly going to be our aim going into the game, to get another winning performance.”.