By Jack Price
Wales supporters watched on in excitement over the weekend as Harry Wilson and Gareth Bale both registered hat-tricks for their respective clubs at a crucial time, with EURO 2020 set to commence next month.
The two players are integral for Robert Page’s side and both look certain to be central to Wales’ ambitions this summer – possibly paired up front together – so, to see them in such devastating goalscoring form must have been heartening for the stand-in manager.
Bale dons the armband and offers a unique, world-class x-factor in the final third, whereas Wilson’s invention and craft is also hugely important.
They both started in Wales’ opening two World Cup qualifying matches against Belgium and the Czech Republic, indicating that they will be handed key roles in the Euros. In those fixtures, they impressed too.
Wilson scored Wales’ goal away to the Belgians following a captivating passing move and Bale, highlighted his all-round versatility by providing two assists.
Back to their most recent club form and Wilson ran the show in Cardiff City’s assured 4-0 victory at Birmingham City on Saturday.
The on-loan attacker opened the scoring with a delightful outside-of-the-boot effort before showcasing his forte with two sweetly struck free kicks.
He also started the move for fellow countryman Mark Harris’s goal.
Since joining the Bluebirds on a season long loan from Liverpool, the Welsh International has enjoyed a mixed success. At times he has looked frustrated figure in a misfiring team, but on other occasions there have been moments of sheer brilliance.
When at full throttle, his talent is undeniable and with an outlay of seven goals and 12 assists, it would be hard to deny that Wilson has performed well in the Welsh capital overall this season.
After his super hat-trick had alerted clubs looking to sigm him permanently this summer, Wilson said: “I feel this season I was desperate to get out and play to make sure I was in the best physical condition I could be in heading into this summer because I knew how big it could be.
“I’ve had the game time here at Cardiff. I’m double figures for assists and I’ve got seven goals, so my numbers are okay but could be better.
“Heading into the summer, I feel I’m in great shape and it’s up to me now to show to those teams that I deserve a move.”
After a very slow start at Spurs, Bale has also came alive in the second half of the campaign, epitomised by his three-goal haul in Spurs’ 4-0 win over Sheffield United.
Not long before the interval, Bale put his side 1-0 up with a deft chip over the head of Blades’ stopper Aaron Ramsdale. Unfortunately for Paul Heckingbottom’s men, he was not going to stop there.
On the hour mark, the 31-year old doubled his tally with a rocketing strike into the top right corner and made it three shortly after, taking his current total to 14 goals in all competitions.
Bale, who rejoined the club on loan from Real Madrid, had fallen under a flurry of criticism initially and many were left to wonder if his star had diminished.
However, the forward has now scored eight league strikes since the turn of the year and looks back to his devastating best, whilst also boasting the Premier League’s best goals-to-games ratio with an average of a goal every 81 minutes.
After scoring his first Tottenham hat-trick since 2012, Bale told Sky Sports: “It’s always nice to get another hat-trick and another match ball.
“I remember my last hat-trick – Villa away I think. It was a while ago and it’s nice to get a hat-trick, but more importantly it’s three points for the team and we move on to the next one.
This is a man who just knows where the back of the net is. Gareth Bale everybody. #THFC #COYS pic.twitter.com/5CMczAuGBP
— Cenk (@CenkCOYS) May 2, 2021
“Obviously you have to take your chances when they come, and thankfully I had a few tonight. I’m feeling good. As I’ve said before I just needed to play games and get a run of games and I’m doing that now, so I’m happy and when I’m happy I normally play well.”
“Winning always makes everyone happy and gives a winning mentality to the dressing room. It’s not going to happen overnight but I feel like we’re taking a step in the right direction.”
Not only is Bale his country’s captain, but he is also the talisman in the team and everything Wales do still seems to go through him.
Along with his quality, he carries that presence and aura to make others around him ramp up their game.
Prior to the tournament, Wales will undergo a double header of friendly matches, which will see them travel to France before hosting Albania at the Cardiff City Stadium three days later.
A week after the Albania match, Wales begin their Euros campaign with a tough opening fixture against Switzerland in Group A. In this group, they will also lock horns with Turkey and Italy, both of whom will certainly provide a stern test.
Therefore, it is paramount for Wales that the two players can maintain form and momentum ahead of the summer tournament.
