A player is always pleased when he can endear himself to fans at a new club in the shortest possible timeframe and this is certainly a scenario that has developed for central defender Joe Low after his summer transfer to Wycombe Wanderers. He has not only exhibited good defensive skills in his main role for the team, but also contributed with three goals that helped them gain valuable points as they aim to be towards the promotion end of League One during the season. A more than decade long association with Bristol City teams ended when Joe joined the Chairboys. Progressing through the academy teams and becoming a scholar, followed by establishing himself as a full professional, Joe had a successful time at the club, the highlight of which was making a couple of first team appearances during the first half of last season. A loan spell with Walsall then ensued during the remainder of it, where he gained plenty of League Two experience in well over a dozen games for them. Now his sights are set on establishing himself at Wycombe and developing his career in an increasingly positive manner. Joe’s good form made him an obvious selection for the U-21 squad that will be playing a friendly as well as a competitive match during the international break. He did in fact get called up to the senior squad as a late replacement in June and he will be aiming to get another chance to be amongst that group in the future.

Wing-back Owen Beck has received numerous plaudits over recent years at Liverpool. He performed well in their U-18’s and older development teams creating enough of an impression to be given some limited first team exposure. His couple of first team appearances along with run outs in friendly matches had some observers discussing his potential as an initial understudy and eventual replacement in that position in the future, and it could possibly be what transpires. As is the case for most young players, the preference is to gain substantial first team experience elsewhere to assess quality before contemplating decisions about regular Premier League exposure and last season Owen was loaned to Bolton Wanderers as a means of facilitating his development. It was not a particularly successful venture, which ended with his return to Liverpool at the halfway point. Even so, good experience may have been gained, as this season a loan agreement that has resulted in him joining Dundee is providing him plenty of minutes performing in the Scottish Premier League. His challenge now will be to develop his game to even greater heights. Involved with Wales teams from a young age, Owen has collected double digit caps for the U-21’s in recent seasons. His aim going forward will be to emulate his famed uncle and produce noteworthy performances in the senior shirt.

Amongst a good number of young players developed through the academy and then in the professional ranks at Cardiff City is Eli King. The obvious intent for any club is to eventually reap the benefits of having these youngsters performing in the first team regularly and adding extra quality to it. Not unique by any means, but anticipation of the possibility is excitedly proposed by some of the club’s fans. As we know, it is a mostly a forlorn hope. All are undoubtedly talented and provide high quality football ability, but that final step against fierce competition eludes most. In Eli’s case, he is on the cusp of doing so, amassing seven appearances for the Bluebirds over the past couple of seasons. He had a successful loan spell with Crewe Alexandra during the first half of last season and now he is on a similar arrangement at Morecambe. Shrimps fans must be pleased that he has established himself as a regular selection in the side and providing quality performances for them. Eli will want to use the experience to enhance his career. Another longtime performer in Welsh national teams and a present member of the U-21 squad.

Liverpool’s connection with Wales and its people is a continued story from the early days of its development into an important city status. One element, amongst many, is both football teams within its borders having a history of employing numerous high quality Welsh players over the century and more of their existence. One player presently at Liverpool FC is Lewis Koumas and he may be on the path of joining that illustrious list. In only his second season of playing football in a full-time capacity, having begun as a scholar in the last one, he is already being exposed to some first team situations with pre-season activities and in season training sessions. Fast tracked by inclusion in U-21 team games rather than U-18 competition, the inference is that he will be ready to be tested in first team competition sooner rather than later. Whether that will be away from the club in a loan situation will be something the management staff will consider in their ongoing evaluations. Lewis played for the Wales U-18 team last season and has been named in the U-19 squad for the upcoming friendly matches in Finland as they prepare for the preliminary European group stage that will occur in October.

A continuation of the theme of young players progressing at above average expectations references Leeds United midfielder Charlie Crew as another that exemplifies the criteria. A year the junior of Lewis in terms of birth years, he is a player considered capable of being a potential future first team contributor at the club, also being exposed to the challenge of competing in U-21 games in preference to doing so with the U-18’s. The Leeds scouting network coveted Charlie’s ability to such an extent that negotiations were instigated to allow his summer 2022 transfer to the Yorkshire club from Cardiff City where he had excelled in their academy teams and U-18 competition when still a schoolboy. At what rate he negotiates those next substantial steps remains to be witnessed, but he is certainly considered an outstanding talent by the national coaching staff as well as his club counterparts. Confirming my comments was inclusion in the U-21 squad assembled for European competition at the end of last season. At that time, he was not included in the matchday squad, and his presence was used as something of an introduction to the group. He has again been named in the latest U-21 squad and with both a friendly and a competitive game scheduled, may well get an introduction to competition at that level this time around.

Fast tracking for goalkeepers is not so easily achieved, with substitution introductions not feasible in any purposeful manner in their case. It is normally a case of getting a starting assignment in above level teams. Once the options within the club are exhausted, it is a case of finding a suitable loan assignment with starting selection in first team games a priority. Preston North End have been delighted with James Pradic’s progress throughout his tenure at the club and so have loaned him to nearby non-league club Bamber Bridge where he is accumulating first team experience on a weekly basis. Though not named for the previously mentioned U-19 squad, he will undoubtedly be a contender as a choice when a squad is selected for competitive matches.

With this season’s international calendar now up and running, we will certainly be hoping that there will be plenty of circumstances to provide cheerful celebrations as we proceed through the coming months. There can be nothing more uplifting than for members of the Red Wall having a need for arrangements to attend Euro 24. As it stands, a very tall order for it to come to fruition. The senior squad will be aware of their situation and that nothing less than positive results for the remainder of the season will suffice. It is my belief that it will take a completely determined application of guile and ruthlessness. I also believe there is a more than sufficient quantity of these elements within the group, the task is using it in a balanced way as a means of being successful. The opposition will of course, not be lacking in those same criteria either and so the victor is usually the one that is resourceful enough to employ their qualities to disadvantage the foe. Hopefully the dragon will be roaring on German soil next summer. I won’t mind at all even if it is cited that luck was on our side for us to do so. We can also be encouraged that the age grade teams contain enough quality within them, for us to have some optimism that they can attend the finals of their competitions as well. The U-17’s proudly represented the nation in the finals of their competition last season and though they did not advance beyond the group stage, they exhibited there was some sting in their tail before they left.