Twelve games into the Ryan Giggs-era, it can be argued that Wales have struggled to produce full 90-minute performances under his tutelage. Saturday’s defeat to Croatia proved no different. Under the glaring Osijek afternoon sun, Wales morphed from the good, the bad and the ugly, but in reverse order, as they somehow mustered the strength to rally in the latter stages against the Croats.

Chris Mepham admits Wales cannot afford to falter against Hungary after their Euro 2020 qualifying setback in Croatia. Hungary’s 3-1 win in Azerbaijan on Saturday evening took them to the top of Group E ahead of their date with Wales in Budapest on Tuesday. Wales are now three points adrift of top-two Hungary and Croatia, albeit with a game in hand, after losing 2-1 to the World Cup finalists in Osijek.

Ryan Giggs insisted he made the right call to leave David Brooks on the bench despite the impact he made as a substitute during Wales’ 2-1 defeat to Croatia. Brooks came on and sparked a Wales revival with his first goal for his country but it was not enough as Giggs’ side failed to take late chances in Osijek. It meant a first defeat of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign for Wales who now face Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday.

Regan Poole is hoping his loan spell at Newport County will lead to an extended contract at Manchester United and a return to the Wales Under 21 ‘WhatsApp’ group. The 20-year-old defender went back to his roots this season with his return to Rodney Parade looking to get more league games under his belt in a bid to convince his United bosses to take up the one year option on his deal at Old Trafford this summer.

David Brooks picked up two major titles at the prestigious FAW Player of the Year Awards last night, but still doesn’t know if he will be fit enough to play in Sunday’s European qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff. The 21-year-old Bournemouth star picked up the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards to crown a year in which he burst onto the international and Premier League stages. But now the race is on for Ryan Giggs’ medical team to get him fit to face the Slovakians this weekend in Wales’ opening Group E fixture. Slovakia kicked-off their campaign with a 2-0 home win over Hungary on Thursday.

Ryan Giggs has urged Gareth Bale’s Wales teammates to take some of the strain off their talisman as they head into their Euro 2020 qualification campaign. David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Daniel James are three exciting youngsters the Wales manager wants to step up and share the load – starting with tonight’s friendly with Trinidad and Tobago at Wrexham. Bale is just a few months short of his 30th birthday, but the Real Madrid striker remains Wales’ main man ahead of Sunday’s opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff.

David Brooks has signed a new long-term contract with AFC Bournemouth. The 21-year-old Wales ace only joined the Cherries last summer in a £10million switch from Sheffield United.

Cardiff City will not have to face in-form Wales star David Brooks when Bournemouth visit Neil Warnock’s side on Saturday night – much to the manager’s relief. Brooks – whose brilliance this season has made him the best young player in the Premier League according to Warnock – is set to be sidelined for four to five weeks with an ankle injury. The 21-year-old midfielder sustained the injury during Bournemouth’s 4-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night, after he had scored the second goal on the night, his sixth in the Premier League this season.

Harry Wilson’s dazzling goal in Dublin on Tuesday night has shone more bright light on the illuminating young talent Ryan Giggs has at his disposal. Wales’ so-called ‘Golden Generation’ reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey leading the way. Now, Wales have more emerging talent under manager Giggs, with several youngsters helping them to top spot in their Nations League group after a 1-0 away win against the Republic of Ireland.

Ethan Ampadu and the other bright young things who shone for Ryan Giggs on Thursday night have been told they must keep their sparkle. Having helped Wales thrash the Republic of Ireland 4-1, the foursome who made their first competitive starts – Amapdu, Connor Roberts, David Brooks and Chris Mepham – have set an impressively high standard. It’s one that their manager wants them to maintain as they face Denmark on Sunday in their second UEFA Nations League match in Aahus.

David Brooks has insisted he used England as “stepping stone” to play for Wales, his first choice from the outset. The Sheffield United youngster is set to earn his third full Welsh cap on Tuesday when Ryan Giggs’ side play a friendly against Mexico in California. Brooks was England’s face of the future as they won the Toulon Tournament last summer, but now the Blades ace is anxious to convince that his switch of allegiance was always on the cards.

Sheffield United and Wales star David Brooks says it was always his intention to play for the land of his mother, despite starring for England in last year’s Toulon Under 20s tournament. Brooks is in line part of Ryan Giggs’ first senior squad when the new manager names his squad on Thursday for the forthcoming China Cup, where Wales will play two matches. Only six months before making his senior international debut for Wales against France last November, 20-year-old Warrington-born winger Brooks was on international duty for the Three Lions, picking up the Best Player award and making the team of the tournament as England went on to win the competition.