Harry Arter admits he played down injury in bid to make Ireland squad

Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter has said that he had to apologise to his manager and team mates after coming back too quickly from injury in an attempt to be fit for Ireland's friendly games against Switzerland and Slovakia. He had hoped to improve his chances of making it to the European Championships.

When fully fit, the 26-year-old, who has not played for Ireland since making his debut against England last summer, would be worth his place in Martin O’Neill’s travelling party.

But the player says that he was conscious of the manager’s concerns about the injuries he has suffered this season.

Having injured his Achilles against Southampton in a 2-0 win on March 1st, he appears to have persuaded Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe that he was fit to start against Tottenham on the 20th, but he aggravated the problem and had to be replaced at the break.

“The injury wasn’t right and I pushed myself way too soon – with the Ireland games in my mind,” he said. “I apologised to the manager and the lads after the game because I realised I should not have put myself or the team in that position.

“I can’t do myself or my team justice if I am not right and next time, I will not put myself in that position.”

Arter returned against Everton last week and he believes he is on top of the situation as the season draws to a close and O’Neill gets set to name his initial squad next Thursday.

“Martin O’Neill has made it clear he wants me to get in a few games and hopefully, I can play in the last two,” he said. “There are a couple of friendlies before he picks the squad, so if I can stay injury-free, he will give me a chance to prove what I can do.

“It would be a dream come true for any player that has not experienced playing at the Euros and hopefully, it is a dream I can fulfil,” said Arter.

Darren Randolph, meanwhile, is set to start today in place of the injured Adrián as West Ham take on Swansea in what will be the club’s last league game at Upton Park.