Buchs hopes Irish eyes are watching him

6:20am Thursday 2nd October 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

DAVID Buchanan has drawn a line under his Northern Ireland Under-21 career and immediately set his sights on a full cap.

The Shakers full-back earned 13 caps for Roy Millar’s side but was told before a European Championship qualifier against Germany last month that younger players would be drafted into the squad.

The 22-year-old is now hoping his club form can attract the attention of the senior side’s manager Nigel Worthington over the coming months.

“For me now it is about trying to play the way I have been and I can try to push into the senior side,” Buchanan said.

“There are some very good players in front of me at the moment. But if I can keep playing the way I have, there’s every chance I could get a call-up.

“As long as the team are top of the league and doing well, maybe Nigel will have a look. Fingers crossed.”

After making the switch to full-back last season, Buchanan admits to still having a slight identity crisis, having spent much of his career on the wing for the Shakers.

He said: “The manager asks me that question, and I ask it of myself sometimes: Is a full-back an attacker or a defender?

“I see myself as an attacking full-back, and I’m expected to do both well.

“You have to be good at one-on-one defending yet I have also got to be able to put good crosses into the box and supply goals for people.”