MY ACCOUNT
Star duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey often grab the headlines for Wales — but Leeds flyer Daniel James is showing himself to be equally as important to Dragons boss Rob Page.
The 24-year-old started in all eight of his country’s World Cup qualifiers, as well as every game at Euro 2020 last summer.
As he gets set to play another key role in his country’s crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Austria tonight, we turn the spotlight on the speedy winger.
Taking the Leed
James’ summer move from Manchester United to Leeds in search of regular football looks to be as beneficial to Wales as it does to the player himself.
Having become something of a spare part at United, James is certainly a valued member of the make-up at Elland Road even if things have not been easy this term.
After a double in a 3-3 draw against Aston Villa in February, former boss Marcelo Bielsa said: “I sincerely value the contribution Dan makes to our game.
“That he scored is a lot better, but even when he doesn’t score, he makes contributions for our offensive game to be profound.”
And having played every minute of new coach Jesse Marsch’s first four games in charge, it seems the American is similarly a fan and that can only serve to benefit Wales.
Sharing the burden
So often the pair to carry their country to the greatest heights in the past, Bale and Ramsey are now able to share the burden at international level.
While always top performers for the Dragons, the experienced duo have struggled at club level this season, starting just eight games between them.
That means boss Page needs all the club regulars he can get and in James — who has been in the starting XI in 26 of Leeds’ 30 Premier League fixtures — he has exactly that.
With the likes of Harry Wilson and Neco Williams also finding minutes at Fulham, Bale knows how important that will be as they approach the pressure cooker of a play-off.
The Real Madrid star told Sky Sports: “Experience is going to help. Having that big-game experience, handling the nerves, handling the pressure is always a good thing that you can go back into the memory banks and lean on a bit.
“It’s something we all have now I guess and we can use that to our advantage. Having some more experienced players in the team can help the younger ones as well.”
Dan the Man
Patrick Bamford’s repeated injury problems mean James has been used as a striker on several occasions for Leeds this season and it could be a role the speed merchant continues for his country.
Regular striker Kieffer Moore is absent from the squad with a broken foot, meaning a makeshift option — most likely James — will lead the line at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight.
And the ex-Swansea man is prepared to continue his new role should he be asked to, having scored twice and set up a further two already in qualifying.
On his new position, he said: “I thought I wasn’t going to play there as much. With injuries, it’s been a thing I’ve had to do. I’ve enjoyed it.
“It’s helped me when I do play out wide that I know what positions I want to be in as a nine, when to release the ball, what times the striker wants the ball, whether to make the front or back stick.
“It’s been a big learning curve and it’s been good. It’s definitely going to help me with Wales.
“It’s very unfortunate that Kieffer’s out but we’ve got a lot of players in there who can fill in and do well.”
A fine header from Bale’s cross in a crucial win over Czech Republic during qualifying had all the quality of a top centre forward.
And with five goals and five assists over his international career, he has shown he knows how to find the net for his country.
The stage is set
Welsh fans have not been short of big occasions in recent years.
And with a win putting them just 90 minutes away from the country’s first World Cup since 1958, the Austria tie is another huge one.
A raucous 30,000 sell-out crowd will be behind them in the Welsh capital and James knows, as it has so many times before, home support can give the players that extra edge.
The 30-cap international said: “The whole country will be behind us like they were in the Euros. It’s going to be a tough game and we have to prepare right.
“I’m really excited for Austria. As soon as the tickets came out it was a sell-out. It’s massive for the country, for us and after the Euros we just want to get into another competition like this.
“For us to get into the World Cup would be a massive achievement for the whole country and we fully believe in ourselves.”
With previous tournament heroes Bale, Ramsey and Joe Allen all in their 30s, Qatar 2022 could be the Welsh golden generation’s final shot at making it to a World Cup.
The experienced players will be rightly praised if they were to achieve that goal, but they know a lot will be owed to James and the other young Dragons too.
