#PLStories- Mark Travers wants more game-time after losing AFC Bournemouth spot #AFCB

Goalkeeper Travers enjoyed a memorable 2021-22 campaign, winning a host of individual awards, including the Daily Echo/Micky Cave player of the year, after playing a key role in the club clinching promotion from the Championship. That form saw him rewarded with a new five-year contract last summer, and he began 2022-23 as the club’s first-choice stopper. However, after keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on the opening day, Travers was powerless to prevent Cherries shipping 16 goals across the next three fixtures, including the 9-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Scott Parker then left the club, with one of the first acts of Gary O’Neil as interim boss being to drop Travers to the bench and install the experienced Neto between the sticks. The Brazilian started eight games on the spin, before Travers got another chance due to an injury to Neto. However, when he returned to fitness, Neto took the gloves again, before going on to be named as the new club captain, with Travers not featuring between January and the final game of the season at Everton. Republic of Ireland international Travers impressed at Goodison Park, stepping in at late notice after Neto returned to Brazil following a family bereavement. Reflecting on his season on a personal level, having made 15 appearances, the 24-year-old told the Daily Echo: “It’s very tough. You want to be playing every week. “Getting that buzz again (at Everton) was great and you want to replicate that every week. “But it’s been a massive learning curve, I suppose. A difficult time, the first time sitting on the bench. “I’ve been third choice, played last year and then second choice this year. “It’s been tough coming in and out, but hopefully I can build on it and go again next year.” Asked if there is a decision to be made over the summer regarding his future, and whether he may need to go elsewhere for more game-time, Travers said: “I don’t know, it’s obviously up to the club. “But I know I want to play every week and at my age, I don’t want to be not playing. “It’s up to them. We’ll see what happens in pre-season and whatever happens, happens. “But I’ll come back to Bournemouth fighting, giving 100 per cent and then whatever the decision is, it is.” Asked last month if there was an argument Travers could do with a loan move next season, boss Gary O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “We haven’t gone into that yet. There’s a lot of thinking and decisions that will need to be made around a lot of players. “No decisions made yet on ins and outs and loans and who needs what. “As soon as the season is done, we can start to put some real clear focus into the detail of what’s best for everybody and, firstly, the football club.”