By Paul Jones
Harry Wilson intends to join the stage alongside Europe’s best goalscorers this summer just two years after giving up on another dream.
The Wales striker pinpoints his decision to leave Liverpool as the first step towards filling the huge boots of Gareth Bale for his country.
Wilson will be the man Wales look to for match-winning inspiration on Tuesday night when they face Robert Lewandowski’s Poland for a place at the Euro 2024 finals this summer.
Haz is the new Gaz, according to Wales manager Rob Page, but the Fulham star reckons it would never have happened had he not chosen to kill his boyhood dream by leaving Anfield.
“That move to Fulham was two-and-half years ago now, but it was a big one for me,” says Wilson, 27, who moved to Craven Cottage for £12m.
“I had been on a lot of loans from Liverpool and although my dream as a young lad was to make it into the Liverpool first team and play regularly, I knew that it wasn’t really going to be the case.
“When I was 18, 19, 20, I was trying to get into the team, but they arguably had the best front three in the world.
“So, the loans I went on really helped me grow as a player and learn the game.”
“It’s always nice to score four goals!”
Harry Wilson reflects on Wales’ 4-1 win against Finland to reach the Euro 2024 play-off final pic.twitter.com/lFaIA5gAH6
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 23, 2024
Wilson’s pragmatic decision that he was not going to shift Mo Sala, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino as Jurgen Klopp’s holy trinity proved to be a wise one.
He immediately helped Fulham win promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and he adds: “We’ve had one good season and this one’s going well although there are a few games left.
“I feel like it’s really been the perfect move for me and my game has gone up another level.”
With Bale retired, it was Wilson who scored both Wales’ goals in their crucial 2-1 victory over Croatia in qualifying.
Although he didn’t find the net in the 4-1 play-off semi-final victory over Finland on Thursday night, it was Wilson’s shot that paved the way for David Brooks to score the opener.
That kind of scruff-of-the-neck yanking used to be the preserve of Bale and Wilson adds: “I don’t think anyone was going to replace Gaz, but we knew when he left we had to step up because he was leaving such a hole in that team.
“He was our captain, our leader, our best player. To lose his goals and his influence on the team, there was going to be a big gap there.
“It’s not just me. A lot of players are playing really well at the moment. As long as I’m contributing to the team with assists and performances, I know there are players around me who have the capability to score goals.”
That front three was electric tonight. Like they’ve played together for years. Harry Wilson the main main again but Brennan and Brooks both great. Very positive signs going forward.https://t.co/rhotSAeIul
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) March 21, 2024
Poland will have their own talisman at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, of course, in the familiar lean shape of goal-machine Lewandowski.
The odds suggest the now 35-year-old will score at least once, since he boasts the remarkable international tally of 82 goals for the Poles in 146 matches.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferenc Puskas and Romelu Lukaku have scored more goals for European nations.
The Barcelona striker surprisingly failed to get among the scorers in midweek, however, when Poland thrashed Estonia 5-1 in their play-off semi-final.
“He might be saving his goals for our game,” adds Wilson.
“His hunger to score goals is the biggest thing. Everywhere he’s been in his career he’s scored, for club and for country.
Harry Wilson’s dynamism proving symbolic of Page’s new-look Wales | Ben Fisher https://t.co/Lp6AJTwMAY
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) March 22, 2024
“He’s going to be their biggest threat. He might not be getting younger but if we give him half a sniff at goal he’s going to take it.
“First and foremost we need to make sure we stop him. If we don’t give him space, we can stop giving him any chances.
“If we do that, we’re confident with the quality in our dressing room going the other way that we can really hurt them.”
