CHRIS Mepham is back from suspension after his last competitive game in a Cherries shirt ended with a red card and play-off elimination at the hands of Brentford, with the Welshman admitting: “It was always going to be a test going away to the Euros on the back end of that.”

The 23-year-old centre-back saw red against his former side at a critical time after tripping Bryan Mbeumo following a clumsy touch, a mistake that proved costly.

The Welshman then had to straight to the European Championship with his country but did so superbly, keeping a clean sheet against Turkey and progressing to the knockouts before defeat by semi-finalists Denmark.

Mepham made 26 appearances in the Championship for Cherries last season, including both play-off games, but is yet to solidify himself as a starter following a £12million move from the Bees in January 2019.

Looking back at his prior error when speaking to the club website, Mepham admitted: “For me it was always going to be a test going away to the Euros on the back end of that.

“It’s not how I’d have wanted to go into it with that Brentford game still in my system. I knew that the Euros would test me mentally, that it would be a good test of my character.

“Mistakes are always going to happen in football, it’s about how you come back from them and react. I was looking to do that.

“I wanted to find the inner strength to overcome it. There will always be setbacks with injuries, performances, being out of the team, but ultimately you need to find that bit within yourself to overcome it.”

Since then, Cherries have a new look with new head coach Scott Parker bringing in his own team and having a full pre-season – albeit rushed to devise a schedule after joining the club late.

A number of opportunities were handed out to young and fringe players during the warm-up to the 2021-22 campaign, with anyone able to earn their place in Parker’s side through hard work and performances.

After dealing with footballing setbacks throughout his career such as being released by Chelsea at 14-years-old and then rejected by a number of other London sides, Mepham knows what it takes to pick himself up and move on.

He added: “I didn’t want to seek help or assurances from elsewhere.

“I just wanted to focus on myself and make sure I got up to speed, got my fitness levels up and controlled everything I could control – being at peace knowing that I’d done everything I could possibly do to get where I wanted to get to.

“I think I’ve overcome that game and I went to the Euros confident, hopefully I can now bring those performances back into this new season.”