MARK Travers admits he has been “frustrated” at a lack of game-time this season, adding: “Of course I want to play week in, week out. I’d be lying if I said I was happy that I wasn’t.”

Having started the season playing regularly out on loan at Stoke City, Travers was recalled after an injury suffered by captain Neto in October.

Neto missed three matches due to the ankle issue, Andrei Radu playing in all of them as Travers watched on.

The Republic of Ireland international played second fiddle to Neto from there on, finally getting a chance to play in January, against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup.

Two more cup appearances followed, before Travers got a surprise call to make his first Premier League appearance of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win.

Explaining his decision to start Travers and bench Neto, boss Andoni Iraola said: “He’s training very well and I wanted to see him in an away game with the pressure.”

Asked when he knew he would be playing, Travers told BBC Radio Solent: “Literally before we left the hotel!

“I just try to come in every day, conduct myself in a positive way, train as good as I can and compete with all the goalkeepers.

“I’m really happy that the manager put me in, showed some faith in me and it was good to get a win and a clean sheet as well. I really enjoyed it.”

Reflecting on his season as a whole, Travers added: “A different one. I wasn’t really expecting it.

“I was really enjoying my time at Stoke, playing every week and getting the games in that I needed.

“Coming back and just playing a couple of cup games, just trying to keep the belief as high as I could and compete every day.

“Thankfully we’ve got in a really good position, so it was great to get an opportunity again and hopefully more to come.”

He added: “I think that’s the hardest part about football, not playing.

“What you do when you’re not playing is tough.

“But thankfully I have a really strong family and partner behind me, who keeps me going and always push me. I’m always grateful for that and try not to overthink it too much.

“Then I always try to see the bigger picture.

“That moment always comes in football and you have to be ready to take it. I just tried to stay focused and do the best I could.”

Quizzed on how he sees his short and medium-term future, the 24-year-old said: “I’m here fighting for my spot at Bournemouth. I came through the academy, so have been here a good while.

“Whatever the manager wants me to do, I’ll come in and try and do my best.

“Of course I just want to play football. We’ll see what happens. But at the moment it’s really exciting for the next few games.

“I never sort of view it as being a number two. I just try to come in every day and push myself and give the best I can.

“Of course days are difficult where you are frustrated, but just try and do my best.

“Of course I want to play week in, week out. I’d be lying if I said I was happy that I wasn’t.

“But opportunities like this come along, so I just try to really enjoy it, because I know it’s really difficult sitting on the bench.

“When you have that chance to enjoy the buzz and atmosphere of a gameday, it’s class.”

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Discussing the result at Molineux, Travers added: “The lads put in such a big effort and such a big push to try and win and get as high as we can up the table.

“We knew they were really close to us in the table, so it was a really important three points.

“The lads were outstanding, gave 100 per cent. Going down to 10 men as well and with 10 minutes added time, there’s a lot of pressure we soaked up well and it was really good to win in that way.

“When the whistle goes at the end, it means a lot more. The pressure from the fans and they were really pushing everyone on in the last 20 minutes or so.

“So to soak it all up and deal with it how we did is amazing. Another three points on the board, which gets us closer to where we want to be.”

Cherries host Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday (2pm).