Bournemouth have handed trials to Southend United midfielder Jack Bridge.

The 21-year-old, who has made seven appearances for the Shrimpers this season, is spending the next few days training with Cherries.

Southend manager Phil Brown told the Echo: “Jack's agent has told us that he's better than what we have in the team at the moment and that Bournemouth are interested in signing him so he's going to be spending the next few days with them.

“We were told they were alerted to him during one of the loan spells he had with Chelmsford.

“His agent has told us that he should be playing for us and that he's not close enough to the first team which I find strange considering he's been on the bench for our past five games.

“It might be a rude awakening for Jack going there or maybe Bournemouth will see something I don't, I'm not sure. But that's the situation at the moment."