CONNOR’S HOPING FOR SILVER LINING

CONNOR ROBERTS hopes to go from the depths of relegation despair to the highs of World Cup qualification within a couple of weeks.

The defender and his Burnley club-mates dropped out of the Premier League on the final day after losing 2-1 to Newcastle, and it was a bitter pill to swallow.

But now he will put that pain to one side to try to help Wales win their play-off final against Ukraine tomorrow and book their spot in Qatar.

Roberts said: “I’ve had ups and downs throughout my career and, personally, it’s just another bump in the road.

“It’s disappointing to get relegated but I’ve come away now and got probably the biggest game I’ll ever play in, so hopefully I can get on and help the lads.

“If we win, I’ll definitely be smiling after it.

“It’s the biggest game for a long, long time but all the boys are raring to go. It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere and we’re all going to give everything to hopefully win.”

Roberts (above with Burnley and Wales) scored against Turkey at the Euros last summer but he reckons getting to a World Cup would top that achievement.

He added: “Yes, it would. It has been such a long time, 64 years, since Wales did it and this group of lads, we’re all in it together.

“I love every one of them and for us to get there as a group would be incredible.”

Roberts knows it would be fitting for team-mate Gareth Bale to play in a World Cup with Wales given everything he has achieved in the game.

He said: “The guy is a hero, really, isn’t he? He has won five Champions Leagues, he has done all he has for not just our country but for his club as well.

“Hopefully we can do him proud and the rest of Wales proud on Sunday, and along with him and everyone else, hopefully we win.”