#PLStories- Mark Travers ‘buzzing’ for Chris Mepham display at World Cup after ‘tough’ Cherries spell #AFCB #Worldcup2022

MARK Travers is “buzzing” to see Chris Mepham get a chance to showcase his talents on the world stage, after a “tough” spell out of the Cherries side. While Travers was playing week in, week out as Cherries clinched promotion from the Championship last season, Mepham was often forced to watch on and play a bit-part role. Having been sent off for a costly error in the play-offs the previous season, Mepham began the following campaign in the starting XI under new boss Scott Parker. But he slowly drifted out of the side, utilised as a late substitute to see out games, as Gary Cahill and Lloyd Kelly forged a strong centre-back partnership, before the arrival of Nat Phillips. Mepham made 22 league appearances last season, playing just over 1,000 minutes. He has already eclipsed that tally in his 14 Premier League outings this term. After Phillips and Cahill departed the club and Kelly picked up an injury, it gave the 25-year-old a run in the team. The former Brentford man’s future at the club looked uncertain as he entered the final year of his contract, but his early season form was rewarded with a new deal to extend his stay until 2025. Now, Mepham is in Qatar, competing in the World Cup with Wales. He played the full 90 minutes of Monday’s 1-1 draw with USA and will be hoping to keep his spot for Friday’s crunch clash against Iran (10am). “Massive credit to Meps,” goalkeeper Travers told the Daily Echo. “He has come in this year and been a massive, massive player for us in the centre of defence. “He’s been class. It was obviously tough, he didn’t play much last season, but it just shows you the type of person he is to come in this season and claim his spot in the team and do brilliantly. “So I’m buzzing for the two lads away with Wales. “I’ll be rooting for them, because it will be a tough group but I think they’ll do really well and they’re excited for it.” Travers himself has been on the international stage, making three senior appearances for Republic of Ireland. They failed to qualify for Qatar, finishing third in their group behind Serbia and Portugal. “It would’ve been nice to get to a World Cup, obviously, but hopefully in the future that can happen,” said Travers. “But of course I’m rooting for all the lads really. “We work day in, day out together. “It’s a dream for them (Mepham and Kieffer Moore) to go to a World Cup, so of course you want to see them do well and win games. “It’s really exciting for them.”