BOSS Scott Parker heaped praise on the returning Chris Mepham, admitting the defender "probably would've laughed" if it was suggested last week he would have such a big role to play at Coventry.

Mepham had not featured in almost two months, prior to being called off the bench for the final 26 minutes at the CBS Arena.

The Wales international helped Cherries secure a clean sheet and all three points in a valuable 3-0 victory.

The last club football Mepham played came against Stoke City on February 26. In the nine games between that and the trip to Coventry, Mepham had not even been named as part of the matchday squad on six occasions, including for Friday's 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough.

But Parker opted to name the 24-year-old on the bench on Monday, in place of Gary Cahill.

Reflecting on Mepham's return to the team, coming on as a substitute for Ethan Laird, Parker told the Daily Echo: "Chris Mepham has not been involved or not been around it for god knows how long.

"He’s been on the bench, not been in the squad, he’s now jumped into a game and didn’t look like he’d been away.

"He was fantastic. I constantly say you need to be ready for when your opportunity comes. Chris Mepham last week, if you’d had said he’ll be coming on for 20-odd, 30-odd minutes against Coventry, he probably would’ve laughed at you and thought 'absolutely no chance, I’m at the training ground on Saturday, not even being in the squad'.

"And how quickly it changes, certainly with me as well, your behaviours in the week, the way you train in the week, gives you an opportunity to be amongst it and gives me the confidence and the faith to put players in and he deserved his chance and did very well."

Speaking last month, Parker admitted it was possible Mepham's long-term future may lie away from Cherries, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2023.

Asked if his performance against Coventry was a testament to the centre-back's character after a tough spell out of the side, Parker said: "Yeah, it is. Definitely. Because it’s not easy.

"I always say to you, it’s hard for me. It’s very difficult. I have a group and a squad of players that I trust, but I can only name a certain amount (on a matchday).

"So there is disappointment along the way, of course there is.

"But testament to his character that he understands, his experience, he understands when he gets his chance, he needs to take it. And he did very well (on Monday)."

Mepham will hope to get another chance when league leaders Fulham visit Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm).