MARC Pugh insists he has no intention of being swept aside by the latest influx of attacking options at Cherries and declared: “I can go as far as I want to.”

The 28-year-old revealed he has had to box clever to remain a staple part of boss Eddie Howe’s Premier League plans having made the most of his recent return to action.

Pugh, the Dorset club’s longest serving player, marked his third straight top-flight start with a beautifully-crafted goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.

And despite facing more fierce competition for his shirt following the high-profile acquisition of Juan Iturbe last month, the Lancastrian winger has vowed to stay one step ahead.

Pugh told the Daily Echo: “A lot of Premier League players are explosive and quick and they want you to go down the line so I have been working on my movement and different aspects of my game.

“It improves me as a player and gives defenders something a bit different to think about.

"I know a lot of players at this level will be quicker than me, I just have to get creative and use my brain. It is working well so far so I’m just going to carry on doing what I am doing.

“I can go as far as I want to. We are always going to be improving the squad, that’s part and parcel of football but no one is guaranteed a place in this team because of the quality we have.

“I am just enjoying my football and every time I go out there, I try to do as well as I can for my team-mates, the gaffer but for myself and my family as well.

“Clubs will always try to bring in players to make the squad better and whether it’s me or anyone else, you just have to deal with that. You have to show self-belief.

“Yes, it is a team game but I want to be playing week in week out. That’s really important, I am a footballer and don’t want to get paid to be sitting on the bench or in the stands.

“I need to do everything in my power to achieve that because I don’t just play for myself, I play for my family and their future. That’s a big thing for me, I enjoy seeing them happy after I have had a good game.”

Pugh harbours hopes of an 11th Premier League start of the campaign when Cherries entertain title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday (1.30) and is keen for his colleagues to showcase their talents with a worldwide television audience watching.

“We go into the game under no pressure,” added Pugh.

“They have world-class players at their disposal and showed at their place that they are one of the best teams we have played this season.

“The league table doesn’t lie and we will have to be at our best. They will need to be slightly below par but our place has become a difficult one to visit and we want to make life hard for them.

“We are under no illusions that Arsenal are different class on their day, we will just have to up our game.”