ANDREW Surman has not drawn a line under the possibility of playing for South Africa – but the former Saints starlet says he is focusing entirely on club football for now.

Surman was born in Johannesburg and lived there until he was eight, when his parents moved back to England.

The South African national team have enquired about Surman’s availability on three occasions, most recently ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations – a competition South Africa hosted.

Surman has not been approached since joining Cherries in summer 2013 – but, with the South Africans in the running for a spot at next year’s World Cup finals in Russia, it is conceivable the dilemma could resurface.

The 30-year-old played 41 matches in Cherries’ Championship-winning campaign and was an ever-present in the Premier League the following season.

And he is not convinced he would have maintained the same levels of consistency had he accepted any of Bafana Bafana’s invites.

Surman said: “I have never ruled out playing for South Africa but my priority has always been my club football.

“The past two or three years have been hugely important for me.

“If I had gone to play international football things might not have worked out the same way.

“I was really honoured to be called up and it certainly was not something I turned up my nose at. I really, seriously, considered it.

“But I have a young family and international football is a big commitment, you are away for two weeks at a time.

“And with the Africa Cup of Nations, which lasts for six weeks and happens in mid-season, it would have been a massive commitment for me and my family.

“I have never ruled it out but, at this moment in time, I am concentrating on my club football.”

Surman does have some international experience. He was capped four times by England under-21s and scored on his debut – as a substitute in a 3-0 European Championship qualifying victory in Montenegro in September 2007.

He started the return match the following month, a 1-0 win at Leicester, and also appeared when the Young Lions beat Republic of Ireland 3-0 at his then home ground of St Mary’s in February 2008.

Surman’s final appearance came one month later, in a scoreless draw with Poland at Molineux, home of Wolves, where he spent a season after leaving Saints in 2009.