Joe Ledley is backing Cardiff City team-mate Adam Matthews as a Wales star of the future as up to four Bluebirds prepare to square up as international opponents tomorrow.
Adam, just 17, joined Joe in the injury hit Wales squad when he was called in on Monday by national coach John Toshack, and could win his fist cap in the match with Scotland at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
Joe said: “Adam has a great future. He has been brilliant for us this season. He played in his first South Wales derby on Saturday, handled it well and put in a great performance.
“If he gets the call for Wales on Saturday, he’ll handle that as well. Hopefully, we can keep hold of him at Cardiff.”
Joe also called on Wales fans to turn up in their thousands for the first international match to be played at the new stadium. He said: “It will be a strange feeling to play for my country at our ground, but I think we’re going to be happy there.
“The atmosphere wasn’t too good at the Millennium Stadium, and we need to get the fans behind us. We want to see the fans, we want to hear the fans, and we’re hoping for a sell-out. The Millennium pitch wasn’t very good, either, and at our place we’ll be able to get the ball down and play.
“Our stadium will be a great venue for Wales. We need to go there and settle in ahead of the next qualifying campaign for the European Championships.
“We’re a young team – at 22, I feel like an old man around the place – but we try to play football, and it’s great to see youngsters coming through. It’s a much different scene with Wales to what it was like when I came in as a teenager. People like Ryan Giggs and John Hartson were around.”
Saturday’s match could see four Cardiff City players on the pitch, with keeper David Marshall and striker Ross McCormack in the Scotland squad, and Joe said: “They’re looking forward to it every bit as much as I am. We haven’t said much about it in the City dressing room so far, but if Wales get the result, there’ll be some banter when we get back together for Cardiff!”
Joe is being tipped as Wales captain for Saturday’s match. He said: “If it, happens, it would be great to lead the boys out as captain on my home ground. There could be no greater honour for me and my family.”
Wales fans can still buy tickets by calling 0845 345 1400. The Scotland allocation has already sold out.
