Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Stockley to train full-time with first team
Cherries boss Eddie Howe has fast-tracked teenage striker Jayden Stockley into his first-team ranks.[LNB] Stockley, who shot to prominence last season, will divide his time between training with Howe's squad and continuing his education at Brockenhurst College.[LNB] The 16-year-old burst on to the scene when he was named among the Cherries substitutes for their League Two clash with Burton Albion in September.[LNB] And although he did not feature against the Brewers, he became the second youngest player to represent the club in the league when he came off the bench against Chesterfield in October.[LNB] Stockley, who also made a brief substitute appearance during Cherries' Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Northampton, was rewarded with a five-year contract in November.[LNB] The deal included a two-year apprenticeship, which started this month, and a further three years as a professional, which will kick in when Stockley is 18 in 2012.[LNB] Stockley, who was on schoolboy forms last season, will combine training with the first-team squad with studying for an advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence.[LNB] The Broadstone-based teenager, who recently took GCSEs in Spanish, geography, PE, drama and the core subjects at Lytchett Minster School, will today link up with Howe's men at Canford.[LNB] Boss Howe told the Daily Echo: Jayden trained with us when we could get him out of school last season and the natural progression is that he comes with us full-time.[LNB] We have high hopes for him and believe this is the best way for him to progress. He will still play for the youth team but will train with us day in, day out.[LNB] Asked whether the door would be open for other youth team players to train with the first team, Howe replied: We are always on the look-out for good players and, if anyone from the youth team puts in good enough performances and we think they are ready to come in, we wouldn't hesitate and would call them up. We want that progression.[LNB] Jayden has done enough in his time with us to stay with us and the rest is up to him. He has got to kick on and his aim is to try to be involved in not only the reserves but the first team.[LNB] He has to keep his feet on the floor, work hard and show the same dedication as the rest of the squad. He also has to show willingness to improve and to get better. If he does all those things and really concentrates on his football, I think he has got a good chance. If he doesn't, like anybody else, his game will suffer.[LNB]
