SCOTT Parker admitted it may be possible that Chris Mepham's long-term future lies away from Cherries, but insisted now is not the time to discuss it with him.

Having played a pivotal role during the early weeks of the campaign, even filling in at full-back at times, Mepham has slowly drifted out of the first-team picture.

The arrival of Gary Cahill to the club in August saw Mepham relegated to a spot on the bench, with captain Lloyd Kelly partnering Cahill at the back.

The Wales international still more than played his part, regularly introduced as a late substitute to help see out results as Cherries made a blistering start to the campaign.

Mepham briefly wrestled the starting position back from Cahill, picked ahead of him in home games against Hull City and Stoke City in January and February.

However, by that time he had a new player in his way in the shape of Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips. He and Kelly are now the preferred duo at the back and with Cahill operating as the alternative on the bench, Mepham has not even made the matchday squad for the past three fixtures.

Asked how tough it has been for Mepham in recent weeks to find himself not part of the squad for the first time all season, Parker told the Daily Echo: "It’s really tough. It’s not only tough for Meps, it’s tough for me as well.

"These are the decisions I have to constantly make. There is good competition there. Nat has come in and done very well. Gary as well.

"I’m very consistent in what I say to the players. It can change very quickly and I think you’ve seen that.

"Leif Davis wasn’t in the squad for three or four weeks – bang, comes in and starts against Derby.

"So, as always, these players need to carry on being very professional and consistent, while I understand probably not happy. I’m sure Chris is not happy with the situation.

"But it is what it is and he needs to make sure that when his opportunity comes that he takes it and grabs it really."

Mepham, who is due in action for Wales on Thursday in their crunch World Cup play-off clash with Austria, has been at Cherries for more than three years.

He arrived under Eddie Howe in January 2019 from Brentford, for a fee of £12million.

The centre-back has since made 77 appearances for Cherries, under four different managers.

During that time he has often struggled to fully nail down a starting spot.

Mepham has only started 10 league matches in succession on two occasions at the club.

The first came one month after arriving, before his longest run in the side at the start of the 2020-21 campaign under Jason Tindall, where he began each of the first 17 Championship fixtures, before injury saw him lose his place, which he never fully regained.

Now aged 24 and a regular with Wales, Mepham's contract at Cherries expires in the summer of 2023.

Asked if he will have to speak to Mepham about whether he sees a long-term future for him at Cherries beyond this summer, given his lack of recent game-time, Parker admitted: "Yeah, maybe.

"Definitely now is not that conversation or the time.

"But certainly I’m sure there will be a right time and a right place to have that conversation with him.

"We’ll have that in due course and both sit down and see how we both see and feel it really."

Mepham has made 21 appearances for Cherries this season, but just one since January 22.