Local lad David Edwards hopes to shake off injury to keep alive his hopes of winning a first full international cap for Wales this weekend.
Ex-Shrewsbury Town favourite Edwards, a former pupil at Pontesbury’s Mary Webb School, is optimistic he might receive a chance to impress boss John Toshack by playing a part in Saturday’s European Championship qualifier against the Republic of Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales have no chance of qualifying for the finals and Toshack is keen to take a look at the country’s top young prospects, a category Shrewsbury-born Edwards comes into.
Edwards was an unused sub for the Dragons in Slovakia earlier this season but had to pull out of the last squad for the games in Cyprus and San Marino owing to a hamstring injury.
But the 21-year-old midfielder continues to feature highly in the thoughts of Toshack and has his fingers crossed he will be involved this weekend.
Edwards linked up with the Wales squad on Monday night but, having trained well on Tuesday, suffered a “dead leg” in the last few minutes of the session.
He was receiving treatment yesterday and hopes to be fit enough to train with the squad at the Millennium Stadium today (Thursday).
Edwards, who expects his mum and dad and several friends to travel down from Shropshire for Saturday’s game, said he would love to be involved against the Irish.
“John Toshack says ‘if you train well, there’s a good chance you will be involved’,” said Edwards. “There’s quite a lot of stiff competition as Simon Davies, Jason Koumas and Carl Robinson are the likely starters in midfield, and then there are the likes of Carl Fletcher and Andrew Crofts.”
Wales move on to Germany for their next qualifier on Wednesday but Edwards believes there’s a good chance he will be called on to play for the under-21s a night earlier in their big game against France at Ninian Park.
Edwards added he was enjoying life with Luton, even though the Hatters are surprisingly in the bottom half of the League One table, following his summer switch in a move which could eventually net Town £400,000.
“I’ve played 15 or 16 games so it’s nice to get some first team football under my belt,” said Edwards. “For the last three or four games I’ve been playing in the ‘hole’ just behind Paul Furlong. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s not too far from my usual position as I like to bomb forward.”
Edwards added he still kept a close eye on Town’s fortunes and hopes the club will do well.
“I saw the game at Wrexham a few weeks ago,” he said. “It was a bit scrappy but whoever scored the first goal was going to win it.
“I always look out for the results and try to talk to one of the lads, usually Ben Herd or Ryan Esson, to find out a bit more. I do miss Shrewsbury now and again, but for myself this was a good move.”