AFC Bournemouth
Chris Mepham is determined to stay the course during AFC Bournemouth’s Championship marathon after passing his first tests with flying colours.
Defender Mepham has played a leading role in the Cherries’ unbeaten start to the season, featuring in all but 11 minutes of the first five league games.
The 22-year-old was selected in Jason Tindall’s first starting line-up against Blackburn having played just ten minutes in the previous eight months due to injury.
Mepham, who also won two more caps for Wales during the international break, damaged knee ligaments during Cherries’ FA Cup win over Luton Town in January.
He had surgery at the start of the year and again went under the knife in the summer after feeling discomfort following a brief substitute appearance against Newcastle in July.
And with games coming thick and fast – continuing with tomorrow’s visit to Cardiff City – Mepham is hoping to maintain his impressive form during the punishing schedule.
He told afcb.co.uk: “It takes a few weeks to get fully into the swing of things but I feel like I’m getting there.
“With the games we’ve got coming up, it will be a really good test for me and, hopefully, I can deal with it physically.
“I’m just pleased to be back out there. Last season was stop-start for me so, hopefully, I can get a good run of games and contribute some good performances.
“In an ideal world, it would be Saturday to Saturday to give my body more time but it’s down to me and the staff to manage me. The more you play these games, the more your body adapts.
“Initially it might be a little tricky but I’ve done it before in the Championship at Brentford and coped well so, hopefully, I can get back to that with no problems.”
Mepham, who made 24 appearances in the Premier League for the Cherries, will do battle with some of his Wales team-mates at Cardiff City Stadium, including Kieffer Moore and new loan signing Harry Wilson from Liverpool.
He added: “We know what to expect from a Neil Harris team. I know a few of their players from Wales.
“Kieffer Moore is a big target man so we need to make sure we’re prepared for that and any threat they might have.
“He’s a big lad and is deceptively quick as well. When you look at target men, you think their only game is flick-ons and physical duels but he can offer a lot more than that.
“Since he’s come to the Wales set-up, he’s been really good and has a bright career ahead of him. We will need to keep an eye on him and hopefully limit him to very few chances, if any.
“Like anyone, I’m sure Harry wants to play at the highest level possible. I think he was keen to get a move to the Premier League but, unfortunately for him and for whatever reason, it didn’t quite work out.
“He’s a good lad and a humble lad and he’ll get his feet on the ground. Hopefully, he’ll have a good season at Cardiff. He’s a good mate of mine and we are going to have to keep him quiet.”
On the international front, Mepham started Wales’ 3-0 defeat by England in a friendly at Wembley before playing his part as they kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against Bulgaria in the Nations League.
Giving his reaction to the international break, Mepham said: “It was a mixed one for me. When you play England at Wembley, you know it’s going to be a tough game.
“There was a lot to learn for me and that’s why it was good it was a friendly. I was disappointed with the first goal but Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on fire at the moment.
“I always try to take positives from every game and reflect on things I didn’t do so well and that was an example of that.
“I missed the Ireland game as a precaution and we kept a clean sheet and got the three points against Bulgaria.
“That was a really pleasing performance and, hopefully, I can stay injury-free now, keep playing and build week by week.”
