IRISH TEENAGER MARK Travers makes his Premier League debut this afternoon for Bournemouth after being named in the starting team to face Tottenham at Dean Court.
The 19-year-old gets the nod ahead of Artur Boruc and Asmir Begovic for Saturday’s early kick-off.
“We rate him very highly,” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off.
“He’s a great character. He’s got a great attitude. Very good goalkeeper, huge potential.
We think this is an ideal game for him to show us what he’s capable of.”
Travers has been included in international squads under Mick McCarthy – most recently Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.
He was an unused sub for both games.
“A few weeks or months ago, the aim was to get into the 21s squad and then to get into the provisional was obviously great, but to get the phone call that I was in the main squad, it was a bit of a shock to be honest, but it’s an opportunity that I’m looking forward to taking,” he told The42 of his senior international call-up.
The former Cherry Orchard man joined the Bournemouth back in July 2016 after a successful trial with the club.
Having spent the first half of last season on loan at Southern Premier League side, Weymouth, Travers last summer signed a long-term deal with the Cherries.
Eddie Howe’s are safe from the threat of relegation, but a win today would lift them above Crystal Palace and Newcastle for a couple of hours at least.
Tottenham, meanwhile, can strengthen their hold on third place ahead of Chelsea with a win at the Vitality Stadium.
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Dan Leavy returning soon will be huge for Leinster and Ireland. The best forward in the country when healthy and a challenger with Underhill and Curry for those 2 lions flanker positions.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: I’m very excited to see him come back too and, sadly, will be hopeful that he is the same player when he gets back.
The Leinster medical team are excellent at managing rehab, very few if any players with recurring injuries, I’m optimistic that he will be.
Will Conners might be focused on as a 6 such is the depth at 7.
@Sean Fahey: Leavy could be a highly effective 6 too. He’s not a renowned jumper in the lineout but he can do everything else, and offers serious balance to any backrow, in similar ways that SOB did in previous years. Touch wood he comes back as the same player, as you said, the Leinster medical team have a good track record. Keen to see where Leavy and Conan will fit from an Irish perspective now Doris and Deegan have got their breakthroughs aswell.
That drop still haunts me. Better team lost that day!
@Jamie Bent: Ulster were immense that day but every now and then you either ride your luck a little bit or run out of it completely. It’s up there with Fofanas bicep alright.
@Jamie Bent: I’d dare say it still haunts stockdale too. He hasn’t been good since.
Two things stand out to me from a Leinster POV re-watching this -
It’s such a shame Adam Byrne has never really kicked on. Immense physical gifts but just seems to be lacking something to really cement his place. Rumours that he’s off at the end of the season too.
Secondly, Ross Byrne really is a big game player. Might not have the athleticism of his bro or even Sexton, but he never lets Leinster down in Europe. He has had by far the better outcome from the Carbery move so far.
It was a great performance for year one, of a 3 year plan. Year 2 and in play off spot in league, and Q final in Europe is nice showing, who knows where it will end, but certainly on target to be in finals and aiming for silverware in year 3.
I hope Dan Leahy will be given time to get to his own high standard, Leinster supporters will give him the space, not sure about the rest of chattering classes though !
@acallkelly: you’re right Leinster supporters are just superior people.. I heard theyre close to a vaccine