ASMIR Begovic admitted his frustration over not featuring in Cherries’ starting XI but insisted: “You have to be professional”.

The Cherries stopper has not featured in the Dorset club’s past nine league fixtures having been replaced in Eddie Howe’s starting XI by Artur Boruc.

The Bosnian international had played 60 consecutive top-flight games before being left out of the 2-0 home victory over West Ham in January.

Former Chelsea, Stoke and Portsmouth stopper Begovic had last week worked alongside Boruc during Cherries’ warm-weather Dubai training camp.

Asked how not playing had affected him, Begovic, speaking on Sky’s Soccer AM, said: “The overall feeling is frustration of course, you want to be playing,

“I have always been one to want to play. I have never been happy to sit on the bench or watch everyone else play.

“But at the same time you have to be professional, try to do the right things on a daily basis, do your role in the dressing room and help your team-mates out as much as you can.”

Begovic was signed by boss Eddie Howe from Stamford Bridge for £10million in 2017.

Quizzed on whether the manager’s door was always open to players, the keeper replied: “His door is open, you can speak to him when you want.

“For goalkeepers it’s different, one plays and the other one doesn’t.

“I am sure we will talk about it – there are a few weeks left of the season – we will re-assess the situation in the summer.”