CHERRIES goalkeeping coach Neil Moss hopes Benji Buchel’s exploits on the international stage will help progress his career at club level.

Buchel played a starring role in Liechtenstein’s 1-0 win against Moldova on Saturday as they chalked up their first victory in Euro 2016 qualifying.

It was also the principality’s first competitive triumph since they won 2-0 against Lithuania in June 2011 – another game in which Buchel had started.

Liechtenstein headed to Moldova on the back of a dismal 27-match run which had seen them win only once, with Buchel featuring in a 1-0 victory over Andorra in a friendly in August 2012.

Buchel, who marked his eighth cap by keeping a clean sheet in Chisinau, has yet to feature competitively for Cherries since arriving 27 months ago and is currently on loan at Welling.

Moss told the Daily Echo: “I am surprised he hasn’t played more games for his country because, when he does, he seems to do well. He played 45 minutes against Bosnia in September and didn’t concede but wasn’t chosen for the next game which was a surprise to him and me.

“When he came back from international duty last month, he was quietly confident he was going to play this time and that is how it panned out and he kept a clean sheet in the first game they had won for a long time so all credit to him for that.”

Buchel, who shouldered the majority of the goalkeeping duties in the absence of Lee Camp and Darryl Flahavan during pre-season, has also served Poole and Havant & Waterlooville during his time at Dean Court.

Moss added: “We have managed to get him out on loan at varying levels and he has done well. He is staying with Welling until January so should get a good run of games in the Conference with them.

“It has been difficult to find him clubs because he is foreign and people don’t know him. When you look for a loan keeper, you look to see how many games they have played at the level you need them for. For that reason, it was hard to get Benji a Conference or League Two club.

“Hopefully now though, with the international recognition and having done well with Liechtenstein, he can have a good run at Welling and the next step will be to get him to a Football League club and see how he manages at that level.

“He played most of pre-season for us and didn’t let himself down. But with the club being at the top end of the Championship, it is a tough ask for him to break in because he is competing with keepers who have played hundreds of games at this level and above.

“It is a conundrum because you look for keepers to prove themselves at a certain level but, if you don’t give them a chance, they never get to do that. Benji would probably have to prove himself in League One or League Two and certainly has the ability and attributes to make the step up.”