ASMIR Begovic says Mark Travers’s lack of game-time last season “is part of a goalkeeper’s life”, as the Irishman looks to force his way back into the starting XI at Cherries.

Travers enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2021-22, scooping a host of individual awards for his efforts in helping Cherries clinch promotion to the Championship.

He then started last season as Cherries’ first choice, before Gary O’Neil took the reins and instantly took him out of the side, bringing in experienced new signing Neto in his place.

The Brazilian would go on to become club captain, restricting Travers to just 15 club appearances in all competitions last season.

Speaking to the Daily Echo following the final-day loss at Everton, where Travers featured for the first time in more than four months, the Irishman admitted it had been a "very tough" season personally adding: “I know I want to play every week and at my age, I don’t want to be not playing.”

Prior to his spell as first choice in 2021-22, Travers played second fiddle to Begovic, before the Bosnian departed to join Everton.

Discussing Travers losing his place last season, Begovic told BBC Radio Solent: “First and foremost, Neto has been fantastic.

“Obviously a top-level goalkeeper, who has played at the highest level for many, many years.

“Of course for Trav it’s an experience, it’s part of development.

“There’s going to be ups and downs in football, there’s no doubt about it. It’s never smooth sailing, that’s for sure.

“He’s maybe dealing with a bit of a different experience now after having the games over the year previous to that.

“I’m sure he’ll take stock in the summer and see what he wants to do and I’m sure the club will as well.

“They’ve got a fantastic goalkeeper coach in Neil Moss and his staff. So they’ll all put a plan together for his development and make sure he keeps going in the right direction.

“But it’s part of a goalkeeper’s life and a professional footballer’s life. There’s ups and downs and you have to take them all in your stride, deal with them in the best way possible.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Travers was dropped by O’Neil following the 9-0 humiliation against Liverpool in the fourth league game of the season.

Reflecting on that decision to leave Travers out for the next game against Wolves, before he was sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola last week, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Conceding nine as a goalkeeper, he was not at fault for too many. But then to be taken out after that and it’s not the season he would have wanted, I’m sure.

“But he’s trained with real professionalism. I’ve had a real comfort in the fact I know Trav can come in if he’s needed, because of the way he works and the way he is around the group.

“A difficult day for me as well that day (at Anfield).

“As an interim head coach to have a day and a half to prepare for Wolves and have to make a call on last year’s player of the season and the number one goalie, to take him out wasn’t an easy conversation for me to have with Trav, who I obviously have a fantastic relationship with.

“I’m extremely grateful to Trav.

“Whether he feels like he had a big impact on the season or not, because he hasn’t played much, but his impact around the group and the way he’s held himself and behaved since that disappointment definitely helped the group manage to get over the line.”