Giggs has a Prem wish for Swan Rodon

WALES boss Ryan Giggs admits he’s keen to see the likes of Swans star Joe Rodon and David Brooks in the Premier League, but insists regular game time will be the most important factor in the pair’s development.

Rodon and Brooks are back in international contention after missing out on the previous camp due to injury, and have also seen their respective futures become the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks.

Rodon has been linked with a move to the top flight in this window, and was also believed to be on the radar at Old Trafford earlier in the summer.

Recent comments from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have suggested the Red Devils may now not be in the market for a centre-back, adding momentum to rumours linking him with West Ham United.

Meanwhile, Brooks has previously been heavily linked with Leicester City this summer, and has also been talked up for Manchester United as a potential alternative to long-standing target Jadon Sancho.

Bournemouth are believed to have placed a valuation of around £50m on the winger, such is their belief in his talents, but there is still a growing expectation on the south coast that he will move on this summer.

Giggs will be keeping a watchful eye on both players ahead of a crucial triple-header of international football, but admits that the opportunity to play at the top level would be beneficial to any member of his team – providing they are given regular game time.

Asked if he’d like to see the duo in the top flight, Giggs responded: “Yeah, ideally, you want players playing, whether that’s in the Premier League [or the Championship].

“We’ve always had a real mixture of players playing in the Premier League, the Championship, even League One, abroad also.

“You want the players playing. I’m not talking about individuals, but the higher you get the more used you are to playing at that level expected at international level.

“You want players playing regularly so when they turn up to camp you’re not worried about their condition or if they can play 90 minutes.”

Brooks has, of course, already had a taste of the Premier League and its demands, but a move to the top flight would nevertheless be something of a step up for Rodon, who has so far spent a majority of his career in the second tier – a reality not lost on the Wales boss.

However, Giggs insists the centre-back’s career is destined for an upwards trajectory.

“Joe made a fantastic start to his international career and then he got injured but now he’s come back and he looks really good, looks really sharp.

“I was really impressed when I first worked with Joe.

“I thought he was a fantastic player, another one with a good attitude and someone who will improve.

“He’ll need to improve but at the moment he looks a real talent.”

Meanwhile Giggs says he hasn’t spoken to Daniel James about his current situation at Manchester United and has hinted that the player is not facing up to an imminent exit from Old Trafford.

However, Giggs says the winger has to accept the criticisms that come with playing at an elite level.

James has once again emerged as a transfer target for Leeds United in this window, just over a year after a move to Elland Road sensationally broke down on the final day of the January transfer window.

Speculation around the 22-year old’s future at Old Trafford has intensified in recent weeks, with United boss Solskjaer taking James off halfway through the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, and leaving him out entirely from the win over Brighton.

But while Leeds have identified James as their number one target, United are believed to be reluctant to sell unless they can bring another winger on board, with the club continuing their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho .

Asked if he’d spoken to James about his future, Giggs replied: “No I haven’t because there’s a lot of speculation with a lot of players.

“I don’t really get into conversations until there’s something concrete. So no I haven’t.

“Dan was fantastic for us in the last campaign and I’m sure he’s looking forward to joining up with us again, as he always does.”

Having seemingly slipped behind Mason Greenwood in the pecking order under Solskjaer, James has also seen himself on the end of criticism from fans, but Giggs believes that being in the firing line is simply part and parcel of playing at the top level.

“If you’re at a big club you’re always going to get criticised. It comes with the territory – you have to deal with that,” said the Wales manager after calling James into his squad.

“That is something that will always happen.

“With me, I only talk to him when I feel he needs talking to.

“With me, he was fantastic. He hadn’t played any games, he turned up, was sharp, he’d looked after himself and that will be the case again I’m sure when he turns up on Sunday.”

Another player in the Wales camp to have been on the receiving end of criticism is young fullback Neco Williams, who blacked out his social media accounts after being inundated with abuse from fans.

Giggs similarly believes that such treatment is really all part of a steep, albeit rather unpleasant, learning curve for players at the top level.

“He’s at Liverpool, and as I said when you’re at a big club you’re going to have to take criticism at some point if you set a certain standard, and you drop below it, even for 10 minutes.

“That’s something you have to deal with when you’re at big clubs.

“But I’m looking forward to working with Neco again. He’s great to work with.”