PORTLAND-BORN Bournemouth centre-back Brennan Camp believes he is in a “good place going forward” after signing a two-year professional contract with the Cherries in May.

Camp, 18, captained the Cherries’ under-18s side last season and also made 10 appearances for Dorchester Town, scoring one goal.

Camp then returned to the Cherries after his loan expired but was immediately snapped up by rivals Weymouth, going on to make a solitary appearance for the Terras in their Southern League Champion of Champions win at Kettering.

Poole Town also utilised the coveted defender’s services for a single game last season.

Speaking to Echosport, Camp described his deal as “amazing”.

He said: “I’ve been there since I was seven, so I’ve not really known much different. I’ve continued to be at the club for all those years, really grown into it and become a supporter.

“To get a deal at that club was amazing and to get two years puts me in a good place going forward.

“With my scholarship I’ve had quite a good two years so I’m looking forward to the next two years working with the under-21s and hopefully I can push on and get some chances with the first team.”

Camp also credited his debut for Scotland Under-19s as a significant factor in securing a Cherries deal.

“I think it’s a big plus,” Camp said. “Obviously I did well with Scotland – I didn’t just go there and not play.

“I feel like that really helped develop me as a player because you’re playing with the quality that every player at Scotland had, with the coaching staff and everything it was a great experience.”

With the likes of young goalkeeper Mark Travers – himself a former Weymouth loanee – making his first-team debut last season, Camp is eyeing a bow of his own.

He said: “I’ve just got to prove (myself) for the under-21s, get quite a bit of game time with them this year and next year, then just see where it goes from there.

“The gaffer (Eddie Howe) always tries to push young players into the first team so that’s got to be the main aim at the end of the two years, to get nearer to that goal.

“I haven’t trained with (the firsts) at all yet. That’s something I want to do and it seems the under-21 players get the chance with the first-team.

“So I’ve just got to play well and hopefully the gaffer sees something in me to call me up and I’ve got to take my chance – hopefully that comes in the next two years.”