CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has urged Josh Carmichael to seize his Wembley moment should the youngster step onto the hallowed turf tomorrow.

Midfielder Carmichael is part of the Gosport Borough squad that will take on Cambridge United in the FA Trophy final, having extended his loan spell at Privett Park a fortnight ago.

A defender during his playing days, Howe featured at Wembley in the 1997-98 Auto Windscreen Shield final aged 20, when Cherries were sunk 2-1 by Grimsby Town, and he wants Carmichael to show his true ability in the showpiece contest.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “It has to be one of the best days of my life when I walked out at a venue I had seen on TV so many times and to actually play there was a dream.

“To have it so early in my career was very special and my only regret was that I never went back.

“My advice would be to make the most of it because you might not get the chance again. It does fly by – I think life flies by in general – so your football career is just a blur at times.

“When you get an opportunity like this, you want to try and remember as much of it as you can. It can be a nervous experience but once the game kicks off, it’s the same as any other game and I certainly look back at it as one of my career highlights.”

Howe believes that former Poole Grammar School pupil Carmichael, 19, will learn a lot from the experience if the development squad starlet gets the opportunity to shine.

“Having to deal with the atmos phere, the coverage and the whole experience can only build you as a young footballer,” said Howe.

“Hopefully it will be a great day for him if he plays and getting the Wembley experience will be invaluable to him going forward.

“That’s the beauty of the loan system.

“We’re able to send him out into this type of pressurised atmosphere which will only increase his development.

“He’s done very well since going on loan, we’ve been really pleased with him and have watched him several times, so it’s the best place for him at the moment.”