The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ex-Don Stockley one of 10 players to test positive for corona virus.
FormerAberdeenforwardtestspositiveforCovid-19–butstrikersayshefeelsfine
Former Aberdeen forward Jayden Stockley admitted he was shocked after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Preston North End striker was one of 10 positive tests among eight English Championship clubs in the latest round of testing.
It was the third round of tests undertaken by Preston, with Stockley returning negative tests on May 21 and May 25 before providing a positive result last Thursday.
The 26-year-old, who is asymptomatic and feeling no ill effects, is now self-isolating.
Stockley, who made 42 appearances for the Dons before moving to Exeter City in 2017, said: “It came as a complete shock. I got a call from the doctor when I came back from training.
“I felt brilliant in training, put a good session in and his number came up.
“We were aware we would get a call if our test was positive and I was thinking ‘no, surely not’, but he told me and it was a surreal moment.
“You feel like you are untouchable and you are going to ride through it.
“You can send yourself a bit crazy thinking ‘where did I catch it’, because we have not been down there.
“We have stayed in our house up here and not mixed with anyone. The supermarket has been pretty much the only place we have been, other than our walks in the country, but we haven’t come into contact with anyone.
“You could think, ‘when and why?’ but the best thing is to be as sensible as possible now and listen to all the advice on what to do.
“It is frustrating, because I feel really good.
“The last week (at training) has been really tough and it is a shame to completely stop that, but you have to accept you have to do what is right for all the other boys and their families.
“In the grand scheme of things, it will only be a week or two I am isolating for and I owe it to the club and the boys to do it properly and listen to the advice.”
The Premier League announced its first all-clear round of Covid-19 testing on Saturday.
A total of 1,130 players and club personnel were tested on Thursday and Friday, with no positive results.
The previous three rounds of testing had yielded 12 positive tests out of 2,752.
This bout of testing was the largest yet, with each club’s maximum allocation upped from 50 to 60 and also the first to take place since the unanimous vote to begin contact training.
The 10 positive cases in the Championship came from 1,058 tests with seven more from just 135 taken by those in League Two.
Stockley added: “In training we have done everything socially distanced. Every drill has been designed to keep everyone apart, so the small groups we have been involved in, it shouldn’t affect them, so that is one of the positives of the way we have gone about things.
“We have done it right and hopefully it allows us to continue our training.
“I feel absolutely well, I haven’t shown any symptoms and everyone else out there has to listen to the advice given.
“Look at the credible sources; don’t let your mind wander and look at the negative things people say.
“Take it as it is, remember what you do can impact a lot of people. This has given it a sense of realism for me. I am the first person I know who has had it, but I am well and I want everyone to take care.”
Stockley was the only positive test from the 143 carried out on players and staff at Preston.