BRAD Smith admits it was “difficult” to leave Liverpool for Cherries this summer – but the defender says he has joined a club which is “growing enormously”.

The Aussie made his Cherries Premier League bow in the most exacting of circumstances at Arsenal on Sunday.

But despite being prevented by the Gunners’ attacking might from displaying his full complement of attributes, the 22-year-old is relieved to be up and running with his new club.

Smith told the Daily Echo: “It was difficult to leave but I felt it was the right time in my career. I spoke with Jurgen Klopp before I left and he said it was the right time for me to go.

“It was a good decision to make the move. Now I’m just working hard and trying to get as much game time as possible.

“It is different here but Bournemouth’s a great club – and I think they can grow into a very big club.

“We just have to stay in the Premier League and keep doing well. The club’s growing enormously and we’re performing strongly.”

Smith’s outing at Emirates Stadium represented just the fourth top-flight start of his fledgling career.

He nearly marked the occasion with a goal when he darted forward in the first half and drew a sharp save from Arsenal keeper Petr Cech.

And the full-back says that passage of play typifies the way he likes to go about his business.

“I’m happy to make my debut but I couldn’t really show what I’d usually like to, because we had to defend a lot,” said Smith.

“I got forward a little bit but not as much as I want to. I like to get forward, put a lot of miles on the clock, get up and down and help the team as much as possible.”

Smith was also keenly aware his performance will have been closely tracked back in his homeland.

Following years of Australian stars such as Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill taking the Premier League by storm, the responsibility for flying the Aussie flag at the elite end of English football now falls entirely on the combined shoulders of Smith and club-mate Adam Federici.

“There’s loads of people looking out for how we do,” said Smith.

“It’s a big thing for us and I think the media there will be all over it, because we both played.

“They are all supporting us back home and I had a few messages from the Aussie boys as well, which was good.”

Smith is also in regular contact with some of his former Liverpool team-mates. And with the Reds due at Vitality Stadium on Sunday, he expects to share text exchanges with his old colleagues in the coming days.

“I speak to Adam Lallana and James Milner quite a bit,” added Smith.

“There might be a bit of banter this week. But on game-day all banter goes to one side. It’s serious.”