BOSS Gary O’Neil has called on players who missed out on the matchday squad against Fulham to fight their way back into the side, stating: “You have a choice as a footballer.”

After a host of players returned to fitness, Cherries had five senior players fit and available who missed out on the squad to face the Cottagers.

They included Wales internationals Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore, who played a key role earlier in the campaign. Darren Randolph, Jack Stacey and Jordan Zemura were also not included, while Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas are carrying injuries.

Asked how much of his job now is about keeping the whole squad on board after leaving out the likes of Mepham and Moore for the 2-1 win over Fulham, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “It’s down to the players as well as me.

“You have a choice as a footballer - whether you stay with the group or whether you decide that your own agenda and what you want to do is more important.

“Me of course, the way I deal with them. Hopefully everybody respects how honest and open I am with them. But you have a choice as a footballer of course, for how you want to handle things.

“We have a huge squad, full of senior players at this moment. Everyone is fit basically. So we’re going to have to disappoint some.

“I’m pretty sure it won’t be the same ones all the time.

“Just because you’re not sub today, doesn’t mean that you can’t even start the next game. That’s just the way it is at the moment. The squad fully understands the situation.”

Cherries, who climbed out of the relegation zone with victory over Fulham, return to Premier League action on Tuesday night, welcoming Brighton & Hove Albion to Vitality Stadium (7.45pm).