Monday, November 17, 2008

Collison looks to make Wales mark

Venue: Brondby Stadium Date: Wednesday, 19 November Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sport website

Jack Collison
Collison is enjoying his run in the West Ham senior side

West Ham midfielder Jack Collison is hoping to use Wales' friendly against Denmark on Wednesday to cement his place in the senior side.

The 20-year-old youngster, who scored his first Premier League goal in the 3-1 defeat to Everton 10 days ago, has been promoted from the Under-21 side.

"I feel as a player, I've matured a lot over the last few months," he said.

"Friendlies are massive opportunities for youngsters like myself to really try and cement our place in the team."

Collison will win his third senior cap after starting in the win in Iceland and coming on as a substitute in the Holland defeat.

And he has enjoyed life under new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola who has given him a run in the team.

"It's been a very good few weeks for me," said Collison.

"He's [Zola] been brilliant for everyone at West Ham.

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"He's come in, he's said he wants his players to play with freedom and he's given me a lot of confidence to really kick on this season.

"It was nice to score my first Premier League goal, but at the end of the day, it didn't mean much."

Collison played a key role in the Wales U21 side who narrowly missed out on a place in next year's European Championships.

But now his focus is on securing his place in John Toshack's side.

"We are going out there to try and do our best," said Collison.

"Denmark are going to be a tough opposition but it's a great opportunity for us to put ourselves up against a decent team."

And assistant coach Dean Saunders insists Wales' young stars should thank Toshack for accelerating their promising careers.

Teenage trio Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter all secured big-money moves to the Premier League after impressing on international duty.

Collison and Manchester City's Ched Evans were also rewarded with top-flight positions once they had performed well for Wales.

"John has done brilliant for all of them as he gave them all a chance," said Saunders.

Bale, Ramsey, Gunter, Collison, Evans and Sam Vokes have followed goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and midfield duo Joe Ledley and Dave Edwards off Wales' production line since Toshack became Welsh manager in 2004.

Ramsey and Tottenham Hotspur defensive duo Bale and Gunter cost Premier League clubs a combined total of £17m.

"After playing for Wales, there's a few of them who have joined massive clubs for big money because of John giving them a chance.

"John has taken a lot of criticism for what he is trying to do because not a lot of people could see what he was trying to do. Now everybody is starting to realise.

"It has taken a bit of time but there is some extremely good young talent which bodes well for the future and our chance of qualifying for a major tournament finals in five or six years."

Wales have not qualified for a major finals since the 1958 World Cup but Toshack's squad now boast 12 Premier League players, five of whom are aged 20 or under.


Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Boaz Myhill (Hull City), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), James Collins (West Ham), Neal Eardley (Oldham), Chris Gunter (Tottenham), Craig Morgan (Peterborough), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby), Darcy Blake (Cardiff City), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Ashley Williams, Shaun MacDonald, Owain Tudur Jones (all Swansea City), Jack Collison (West Ham), David Edwards (Wolves), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Craig Bellamy (West Ham), Ched Evans (Man City), Sam Vokes (Wolves).

Denmark squad: Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen), Thomas, Sorensen (Stoke City), Anders Moller Christensen (Odense), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Kasper Bogelund (Aalborg), Patrick Mtiliga (NAC Breda), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Thomas Rasmussen (Brondby), Hjalte Bo Norregaard (FC Copenhagen), Ken Ilso (SonderjyskE), Leon Andreasen (Fulham), Martin Retov, (Hansa Rostock), Martin Vingaard (Esbjerg), Thomas Kristensen (FC Copenhagen), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby), Morten Nordstrand (FC Copenhagen), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (Toulouse).

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