GOALKEEPING guru Neil Moss praised the professionalism of Cherries stoppers Lee Camp and Darryl Flahavan following their seamless return to the first-team fold this week.

Both first-choice custodians were beset by thigh strains during pre-season but made light work of their comebacks despite missing the bulk of Cherries’ summer preparations. 

Having featured in every warm-up match, untried understudy Benji Buchel had been put on standby for the Championship curtain-raiser at Huddersfield seven days ago before Camp won his race against the clock.

Camp performed admirably during the 4-0 thrashing of the Terriers but faces a late fitness test ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Brentford (3pm) having been sidelined for most of the past week.

Flahavan played the full 90 minutes and produced a comfortable display in Tuesday’s 2-0 League Cup victory at Exeter and Moss said the duo’s thorough approach to training had aided a smooth transition, despite their disrupted groundwork.

Moss told the Daily Echo: “If the injury had happened to a new signing it would have been difficult because we play in a certain way.

“The manager’s philosophy is to play from the back so we work on those situations time and time again. The application Campy and Flavs show week-in week-out would have helped them to overcome any difficulties.

“Both are highly experienced, know how we do things and they’re both fitness fanatics so two or three days training can be enough as they have proved.

“You couldn’t ask for two better professionals. My job is easy because they both want to work and improve and my biggest problem is getting them off the training pitch.

“The biggest challenge is making sure they get in their recuperation time. Campy is coming on 30 and Flavs is 35. They do great work in the gym but sometimes I feel they want to be out on the training pitches a bit too long.

“We looked back with the sports scientists and went through everything we had done with a fine-tooth comb. They both got it at different times so I think it was a coincidence.

“It was never going to be a big problem for either of them, it was one of those things. Goalkeepers work hard in pre-season and it is difficult for them with the variety of different things they have to do.

“They both have the experience to manage the situation and the medical department have given them a clean bill of health with scans and so on.

"With thigh strains, you sometimes worry a little bit when they’re kicking but with a game behind them they should go from strength to strength now."