STALWART Marc Pugh admitted he would have liked to have had a bigger influence on Cherries’ maiden Premier League season but insisted: “It’s about the team and not me.”

One of Cherries’ longest-serving players, Pugh played a key role in the meteoric rise from the third tier to the top flight having joined in the summer of 2010.

The 29-year-old winger has made more than 250 appearances for the Vitality Stadium side but has been restricted to just 12 league starts this season in the face of fierce competition from Junior Stanislas and Max Gradel.

Pugh has made only substitute outings since starting against Stoke in mid-February, his latest appearance being a lively second-half display in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

And while Pugh revealed he had found his decreased match minutes frustrating, he admitted his own ambitions were not the most important factor.

Reflecting on his season so far, Pugh told the Daily Echo: “It has been a bit bitty. I’ve been in and out of the team and haven’t started many games.

“It’s frustrating as a player because you want to play every game and be a big influence in the team and in the results.

“But to be given the opportunity to play and do my stuff in the Premier League is amazing, playing against world-class players.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I want to play more football but at the end of the day, it’s about the team and not me.

“To have an impact in the club’s first season in the Premier League is a massive achievement for me along with the rest of the squad.”

Pugh completed the set of scoring in the top five divisions of English football when he registered in the 4-3 win at West Ham in August.

His other top-flight goal came at Crystal Palace at the beginning of February when Cherries earned their first victory from a losing position in the Premier League.

And Pugh admits he has been proud to be a part of the club’s inaugural top-flight season, adding that the campaign had been about giving back to the fans.

He said: “There have been some really good moments, including some memorable goals and, hopefully, there will be a lot more to come.

“Before games, you want to go out and put on a good performance for the fans because they deserve it – they put their hands into their pockets to keep the club alive.

“The Premier League is for them and it’s important we give them something back.

“It’s amazing how far this club has come and who knows where we can go if we keep pushing? We have the right characters in the dressing room that want to be successful.

“We enjoy every moment. If you stop enjoying football, you shouldn’t be playing the game.”