Page: Young guns forcing my hand
ROBERT Page believes Wales’s Euro 2020 hopefuls boosted their chances of securing summer selection by beating Mexico.
Page, who was again standing in for absent boss Ryan Giggs, named an entirely different side on Saturday night to the one who suffered an opening 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat in Belgium.
And it was largely an inexperienced team who claimed Wales’s first win over Mexico in five attempts.
“We’ve got World Cup qualifiers, we’ve had a friendly in between,” said Page. “We knew coming into it we would have to change the team because obviously the two qualifiers are the most important thing for us.
“But these players have done themselves absolutely no harm.
“They have gone out and we have had to take note of their performance. That will play a factor in what we do now in the summer and at the Euros.”
Defenders Ben Cabango and Rhys Norrington-davies, midfielder Jonny Williams and striker Kieffer Moore – who settled matters with his fifth international goal – all impressed.
Matthew Smith’s composure and passing range also stood out in the Wales midfield as the Manchester City youngster surely booked his ticket to this summer’s delayed European Championship.
Page said: “Our young players need to be playing competitive football, that’s the message we give them, and Matt’s a great example of that. The loan last season didn’t work out for him. He got called back by Manchester City and sent out to Doncaster.
“I’ve seen him three times in the last month and he’s given performances like that week in, week out.
“Also Dylan Levitt. He’s gone out to play competitive football (for Croatian club Istra) and it’s worked for him as well. I thought the two of them were magnificent.”