Chris Coleman has a “Stand By Me” choice to make over Ben Woodburn after the teenager’s dramatic breakthrough moment for Wales.
Woodburn sang the classic Ben E King song as part of his initiation ceremony within the Wales squad before the 17-year-old fired the winner against Austria 261 seconds into his international debut on Saturday night
Now, Coleman must decide whether or not to promote Woodburn from the substitute’s bench and start with the youngster, who has re-ignited his country’s World Cup campaign, in Moldova on Tuesday night.
The chances are that with Joe Allen and Neil Taylor available again after suspension, Woodburn may well remain on the substitutes’ bench but the clamour for him to appear at some stage will be loud.
Coleman admits: “You’re never sure with young players. You can see them coming through with a lot of confidence but it can go left or right, you’re never sure.
“Ben is very composed, he doesn’t get fazed. He’s got a long, long way to go, Ben knows that and Liverpool will be the same.
“It’s for everyone else to get carried away but for me he’s a bright young player and he needs to keep working hard.”
As for whether or not Woodburn will now become a regular face in the Wales line-up, Coleman is clear that he always had confidence in the striker who has come through the ranks at Anfield.
He is also equally forthright that Chester-born Woodburn – who qualifies through a Welsh grandparent – was not capped to prevent him later choosing to play for England.
Coleman added: “I’m not in a position to make frivolous decisions. It’s all or nothing for us.
“First and foremost he’s a young player and if I didn’t think he was going to get through that I wouldn’t put him in because it’s not fair on the lad.
“I put him on because I thought he had a lot to offer, because I’ve seen a lot of him, and thankfully it worked out.
“I’ve never had doubts that he would play for Wales. I never thought he was going to go any other way, to be honest.
“But I’m in a privileged position because I’ve spoken with the family. He’s always declared himself Welsh, he’s played with all the youth teams, worked through our age groups so while he may be new for some people he’s not for me. We’ve seen him coming through.
Ben Woodburn is congratulated by Gareth Bale. Pic: Getty Images.“Young players have got a long way to go and Ben knows that. Liverpool will be the same with him. He’s got to keep working hard and not get carried away. We’ll keep working hard with him.
“He’s only young, it’s his first game for Wales. It was a great goal, he did great, but he’s got a long way to go.
“He knows that, we know that, Liverpool know that. So it’s a great start for him, but there’s a long road for him.
“It’s looking good for us, it’s good signs, but this is our golden generation; your Joe Allens, your Gareth Bales. Why? Because they’ve produced. They’ve gone out and done something different. For these new boys coming through, that’s the pathway.”
Woodburn does not turn 18 until October, the same age another Chester-born Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, made his name and reputation at the 1998 World Cup for England.
Now, Woodburn – who was born a year after France ’98 – is dreaming of following in Owen’s footsteps.
He says: “That would be the aim, it would be another dream. Hopefully, we can get there, it would be unbelievable to get there.
“I just want to try to help the team out as best I can. I was just in dreamland after the goal.
“It is nerve-wracking, coming into any squad, but the players really welcomed me and helped me to feel at home here.
“The manager and the players have been great with me, they have treated me just like one of them, it has been easy to bond with everybody.”
