Wales are in Zenica today focussed on firing up their Uefa Under-21 Championships campaign with a win against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2pm).
Team manager Robert Page is leading the group and his squad includes Sheffield United’s David Brooks, who has returned to under-21 football after recovering from glandular fever,
The return of Brooks from the Welsh senior team is a massive boost for Page, who says: “Ryan Giggs has had a conversation with David, who knows that if he keeps playing the way he is playing then he will return to the first team.
“He has an air of enthusiasm and class about him. Everybody raises their game because David is with us.”
Today’s under-21 group match is the 350th competitive match at this level for Wales and Page says: “We have a manager at the helm (Giggs) who is keen to encourage youth. He wants young players to come through and everybody has a chance by getting minutes playing for the under-21s.”
Wales lost 4-0 against Bosnia at home, but then fought out a goalless draw against group leaders Romania in their last group game.
“That result against Bosnia at home was difficult to take,” said Page. “We let ourselves down more than anything, although we put it right against Romania four days later.
“We are coming off the back of a positive result and we need to put right the wrongs from our first game against Bosnia.”
Former Cardiff City defender Page, who is from Llwynypia in the Rhondda, is a hands on type of coach.
He began his coaching career began at Port Vale in 2011 and became manager of the club three years later.
In 2016 he was appointed manager of Northampton Town and is now guiding young Welsh players, saying: “There are two types of manager. The tracksuit manager and the suit manager.
“I’m a tracksuit manager. I like to be out on the pitch, I like to be involved and take the sessions, especially the sessions about the team shape and how we go about our work.
“It’s important to have good people around you, people you can trust, but when it comes to the business end I like to take charge. I like to be in control and I enjoy it as well.
‘You do miss that day in, day out, on the grass with the players. But when I get them for a week or so at this level, it’s really enjoyable.”
Wales have made two changes to the original squad named because of injuries. Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United) and Matthew Smith (Manchester City) have withdrawn because of injury and have been replaced by Liam Cullen (Swansea City) and Robbie Burton (Arsenal).
Wales under-21 squad: Luke Pilling (Warrington Town, on loan from Tranmere Rovers), Owen Evans (Wigan Athletic), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff City), Rhys Abbruzzese (Cardiff City), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Regan Poole (Northampton Town, On loan from Manchester United), Cian Harries (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Cheltenham Town, on loan from Swansea City), Aaron Lewis (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), David Brooks (Sheffield United), Robbie Burton (Arsenal), Alex Babos (Derby County), Jack Evans (Swansea City), Joe Morrell (Cheltenham Town, on loan from Bristol City), George Thomas (Leicester City), Rabbi Matondo (Manchester City), Daniel James (Swansea City).
Group eight details:
Results so far: Bosnia 6, Liechtenstein 0; Switzerland 1, Bosnia 0; Liechtenstein 0, Romania 2; Bosnia 1, Romania 3; Switzerland 0, Wales 3; Romania 1, Switzerland 1; Portugal 2, Wales 0; Liechtenstein 1, Wales 3; Switzerland 0, Romania 2; Bosnia 3, Portugal 1; Liechtenstein 0, Switzerland 2; Romania 1, Portugal 1; Wales 0, Bosnia 4; Portugal 2, Switzerland 1; Wales 0, Romania 0.
Fixtures:
March
Friday 23: Bosnia and Herzegovina v Wales (2pm, Zenica).
Friday 23: Portugal v Liechenstein (5.45pm).
Tuesday 27: Switzerland v Portugal (4pm)
Tuesday 27: Liechtenstein v Bosnia (5pm).
September
Friday 7: Bosnia v Switzerland.
Friday 7: Portugal v Romania.
Friday 7: Wales v Liechtenstein.
Tuesday 11: Wales v Portugal.
Tuesday 11: Romania v Bosnia.
Tuesday 11: Switzerland v Liechtenstein.
October
Thursday 11: Liechtenstein v Portugal
Friday 12: Romania v Wales
Tuesday 16: Wales v Switzerland
Tuesday 16: Portugal v Bosnia
Tuesday 16: Romania v Liechtenstein.
Group 8 table
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points | |
| Romania | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Portugal | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| Switzerland | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 7 |
| Wales | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| Liechtenstein | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 0 |
