'I would have taken 60 seconds just to say I’ve played at a World Cup'

Mepham was 19 when Dean Smith handed him his debut as a late substitute in the Bees’ 5-1 victory over the Spitfires at Griffin Park in January 2017.

The defender had already overcome some significant hurdles to earn a crack at the professional game, with Chelsea, Watford and QPR having rejected him as a youngster.

Having ditched plans to take over his late uncle’s gardening business, Mepham’s dedication has seen him come up smelling of roses, his involvement in the World Cup his most recent highpoint.

The 25-year-old started Wales’s group games against USA, Iran and England and performed admirably despite a disappointing overall campaign for Rob Page’s team.

“I played every minute of the three games, I would have taken 60 seconds just to say I’ve played at a World Cup,” said Mepham in an interview with afcb.co.uk.

“It was an unbelievable experience and one that will live long in the memory. To start every game, I felt was my reward for the work I’ve put in at club level this season.

“I was pleased with my performances but we know we under-performed as a team at times.

"We had big expectations going into it and the immediate goal was to come out of the group.

“We knew we were more than good enough to do so and it was very disappointing because we know we can be so much better than we showed but we’ve got a great team going forward.”

Looking back over the experience of Qatar, Mepham added: “Looking around and taking it all in, it made me realise this was the same tournament I used to watch when I was a young lad.

“I’d watch all the games on the telly with my dad, we would try to predict the winning team, who would be the top goalscorer and I would fill in my World Cup wallchart.

“Fast forward 10 to 15 years and, suddenly, I was playing in that same competition.

"It didn’t feel real at times and it’s only when you have a bit of time to reflect that it makes you realise what a big achievement it was, regardless of how well Wales did.

“For a small nation like Wales to get there was an unbelievable achievement and whatever happened while we were there was a bonus.

"It certainly gives you more hunger for more opportunities like that.”

Since coming back from Qatar, Mepham has been unable to fully return to the trenches with his Cherries teammates after being laid low by a virus.

But having returned to training, he hopes to be in contention to face his former club when the Cherries met Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).

Mepham said: “When I came back from the World Cup, I felt I had momentum on my side.

"I’d had a run of games at that level and was really looking forward to coming back and helping the team carry on from where we left off in November.

“But I caught a really bad virus and have spent the best part of three weeks trying to shake it off.

"I know some of the other lads had a similar sort of thing but, for me, it seemed to take a lot longer.

“It’s been very stop-start and it’s been really frustrating for me not being able to help the team.

"I feel like I’m in a good place football-wise at the moment and I want to help my teammates.

"It’s all behind me now and I feel a lot better so, hopefully, I can get back in the team and play my part.”

Mepham returns to Brentford for the first time since he was sent off for pulling down Bryan Mbeumo in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final in 2021, the Bees going on to triumph 3-2 on aggregate.

He added: “I can’t speak highly enough about them for giving me the opportunity when a few other clubs weren’t prepared to. It was a tough time for me.

“I wish I had better memories of going back there. It wasn’t a good day for the team and I was gutted.

“Everyone puts in a huge number of hours and a lot of hard work over a long season to try to get promoted. The way that afternoon went, I felt very responsible.

“Hopefully, it’s my responsibility to go there on Saturday and give a performance to finally put that all behind me.”