JORDAN Zemura insists he will not let his contract situation affect his performances for the rest of the season.

The full-back’s deal at Cherries is set to expire in the summer, although the Daily Echo understands the club has an option to extend that by an extra year.

Boss Scott Parker revealed in October Cherries had held “early conversations” with Zemura over a new deal, but did not want it to become a distraction.

Speaking in December, Parker confirmed talks regarding the futures of Zemura and Jaidon Anthony, who are both in similar contractual situations, would be “parked” until nearer the summer.

Having only made fleeting appearances for the first team before Parker arrived, the pair have become key figures for Cherries this season.

“We’re parking it and will speak about that towards the end of the season,” Parker said of Zemura and Anthony's contract talks.

“I think that’s best for everyone. These are two young boys that are still striving to make a career and they’re still striving to make inroads.

“However well they’ve done, they’ve done well in half a season and the reason they’ve done so well is because their main focus has been football, football, football and a desperation to stay in a team and get in the team.

“That’s exactly where I want their heads to be.

“We’ve got some time in the summer when there is nothing else and we can sit back down.”

Zemura’s form at Cherries has seen him linked with the likes of Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Leicester City during the course of the season.

But the 22-year-old insists he has not let speculation over his future affect him.

Asked if his contract situation had been on his mind, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “No, not at all. At the end of the day, I think the gaffer was right.

“When we had the chat about it, it’s true, I’m still so young.

“So having talks about something like that is a bit like, ‘what do I worry about? Do I worry about this?’.

“So, for me, I just listen to the gaffer. I’ve listened to him since he’s first come in and just left it. Whatever comes, we’ll just revisit it when we need to.

“But right now it’s about playing and getting the job done.”

Zemura, who made his Cherries debut in the Carabao Cup in September 2020, has made 22 appearances for the club this season, scoring three goals.

He also represented Zimbabwe during January's Africa Cup of Nations.

The left-back will hope to feature when Cherries welcome Stoke City to Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm).