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Arter put in an excellent performance against admittedly poor opposition last night. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Time to shine

Arter hoping he's 'made a statement' ahead of Ireland's opening World Cup qualifier

The Bournemouth midfielder is attempting to play his way into Martin O’Neill’s first XI.

HARRY ARTER COULD finally be set to make his mark on the Ireland team after a stop-start international career thus far.

The Bournemouth midfielder was handed his debut as a substitute against England back in June 2015 after impressing for the Cherries, but injuries have restricted him to one appearance, against the Netherlands in May, since then.

26-year-old Arter was unavailable for Euro 2016, but earned his third cap in last night’s friendly win over Oman and impressed throughout the 90 minutes at the Aviva Stadium.

Martin O’Neill takes his squad to Belgrade this weekend ahead of their first 2018 World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Monday, and Arter has done his chances of featuring no harm with James McCarthy ruled out.

“It’s always nice to play,” Arter said. “With the games we have got coming up and the fact that I haven’t played too much, any game I do play I feel I have got to try to make a statement and I tried to do that.

“I feel like I have settled in with the group a lot better now. I have been away with them five or six times.

Even from my first trip, there was a really good team spirit and they got me involved straight away, so it’s enjoyable when I come away.”

The former Chartlon Athletic academy player has been frustrated with his last of playing time for Ireland,

“It’s been really disappointing to miss any football, whether I was playing international or just at Bournemouth, but obviously the added blow to that was the Euros. That was a disappointing one to miss out.

“But with football, there are always games, everyone is always looking to the next game rather than looking back and that’s what I have been focusing on.”

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