HARRY Arter insisted he would not be devastated to miss out on the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2016 having learned the true meaning of the word.

The Cherries midfielder and fiancee Rachel were left grieving in December when daughter Renee was stillborn and the tragedy gave Arter a perspective on the profession which helped him move on, but not forget.

In the next few days, the 26-year-old will discover whether or not Republic boss Martin O'Neill has included him in his 23-man squad for France. If he has not, there will be huge disappointment, but no more.

Arter said: "Before that, this would have been the be all and end all for me. If I didn't get in the squad, I would probably have been devastated.

"But I certainly know what devastation means now, it has a completely different meaning to me. If I did miss out, it would be a disappointment, certainly not devastation.

"I have tried to stay professional throughout. Luckily for me, I am passionate about football and I have had something to focus my mind on after what happened. Some people, unfortunately it takes over their life.

"Luckily for me, there is something I have been able to focus on and I want to try to just continue it."

Should Arter make the plane, he will climb on board with his daughter firmly in his mind.

He said: "I want to try to do her proud, I want to try to make my family proud. It's still pretty raw in the sense that it's only been just over five months.

"I don't mind talking about her but of course I want to do her proud. In my eyes and my family's eyes, she was with us for nine months. I am proud to say she was my daughter and I want to try to do her proud if she is watching."

The former Woking man will hope to win his second cap in the friendly against the Netherlands tomorrow (7.45), with club-mate Eunan O'Kane also in contention to feature.

Arter added: "To go to the Euros would be a dream come true for any player who has never experienced it.

"If I do go, I will look back when I am a little bit older and my story may seem a little bit better in a sense, but for everyone I am sure it would just be brilliant."