AFC Bournemouth have confirmed that Joshua King has tested positive for COVID-19.
The 28-year-old returned from international duty with Norway and will now self-isolate for ten days.
Joshua King Tests Positive for COVID-19
Away on International Duty
As per EFL and club protocols, King was tested upon his return from international duty with Norway. The result came back negative, but the 28-year-old showed symptoms the following day and after taking a second test, his result came back positive.
A ten-day self-isolation period must now be adhered to for the forward and will now miss Championship fixtures against Reading, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United.
Manager’s Reaction
Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall spoke on Friday afternoon after confirming the news. Speaking to the media, he said: “Josh will follow the standard protocols. He tested negative when he came back on Tuesday but started feeling a few symptoms so was re-tested and tested positive.
“Josh was in close contact with one of the players in the Norway squad who picked it up. He has contracted the virus so will have to isolate for ten days and there’s nothing we can do, unfortunately.
“It’s really frustrating, especially going into the block of games we are going into when your squad is going to be so important.
“We had 60 tests on Thursday and the only one that was positive was Josh and that’s just unfortunate for us.
“But with what’s going on in the world, it’s something that is out there and many players and people are contracting it and there’s nothing we can do, unfortunately.”
King is a Loss for Bournemouth
Losing King is a bitter blow for Tindall and his Cherries team. The 28-year-old has missed five Championship games through injury and international selection but has managed five appearances this season.
Although he was an unused substitute in Bournemouth’s 3-1 win at Birmingham City two weeks ago, the forward can play a key part in the team.
The Cherries are fourth in the table, two points behind league leaders Reading who they face on Saturday afternoon.
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