MARTIN: HARRY MAY BE MAN IN A HURRY TO SEAL MOVE AWAY
HARRY ARTER is at a career crossroads and Martin O’neill feels his international future hinges on his decision making this summer.
While the Bournemouth midfielder has been dogged by injury setbacks in the past, he is now fit yet finds himself pushed to the periphery of the Cherries team.
Arter, 28, was a regular in Eddie Howe’s side in the first half of the season but hasn’t played since the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Wigan on January 17.
He had an Achilles injury late last month but his apparent desire for a January move away appears to have marginalised him.
West Ham were keen to land Arter – who only signed a four-year contract extension at Bournemouth last summer – in that transfer window.
But Howe put his foot down and Arter then refused to rule out a summer exit.
“When a player my age is not playing and just loves playing football, there comes a question over whether long term it’s going to be the right place for me,” he said at the time.
“Ultimately if I’m not playing, there has to be a change – and I’m sure the manager would understand that.
“If I don’t play between now and the end of the season and I’m a continued spectator then, naturally, there would be a discussion.”
The English-born midfielder has had a stopstart time of it with Ireland, winning just 11 caps in an injury-disrupted three-year spell.
But Ireland boss O’neill feels Arter must make a call on his Bournemouth stay sooner rather than later as his lack of action is now a major concern.
Arter won’t be involved in today’s testimonial against Celtic but is in the squad for tomorrow week’s clash with France in Paris and the USA game in Dublin the following Saturday.
O’neill said: “I never advocate people moving but if they’re trying to promote their careers and they’re not getting a game, what chance do you think you have of getting in?
“I have to look at the number of games the players played, the level they’re playing, or not playing, at.
“I have to take that into consideration as I don’t want to be going into a group of games at the start of the season with players not having participated.
“I’ll make concessions for certain players where I think he has certain ability but it’s just a bit of tough luck at his club.
“But if he’s not been playing for a long time, he’d have to have a look at it.
“I’ll speak to Harry when I see him.”
O’neill went to the Burnley v Bournemouth game on the final day of the season and sought clarity on Arter’s fitness from Cherries officials.
“He was definitely not injured, so he has some considerations to make. It might just be a falling out with the manager,” said O’neill.
“It might be that when he came back from injury he couldn’t force his way back into the team again and he might go back to Bournemouth in pre-season with renewed determination.
“But if they consider him now not good enough to play for the side, then that’s something he has to look at. “Knowing Harry, he’ll feel that he’s worthy of a place in the side.
“I’’d be disappointed if he didn’t think that way.”