Bond Realistic On Vokes - Gaffer's take on striker interest

The interest in Cherries eighteen-year-old striker Sam Vokes has rocketed in recent weeks. Vokes has netted eight goals in his last twelve games and looks set to remain with Bournemouth at least until the end of the season.

Vokes also became the youngest Cherries player to register ten league goals in a season at the beginning of March. It marks a superb turnaround for the striker who struggled to get into the starting eleven back in the autumn and waited until December to net his first goal of the season.

Vokes was the first to admit his stamina needed working on, hence his appearance on the bench and use as a second half impact sub. The Welsh Under 21 International has worked hard on his fitness levels and been rewarded by Kevin Bond with an extended first team run.

The striker is now one of the hottest properties in the Football League and Cherries Manager Kevin Bond admits it's part and parcel of lower league football. When asked if he thought Sam would continue attracting interest Bond said, "I certainly hope that's the case.

"There'll be something wrong with Sam's development if he doesn't attract further interest. We all hope he progresses as he has done and he goes on to be a really good player and a player Bournemouth find it difficult to hang onto.

"We hope it won't be for a while yet and that he'll be worth a few quid. A club like Bournemouth will always find it difficult to hold on to players worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. That's the way it is but hopefully it'll only be done when it's right for the player and the football club."