Will of steel VAULKS HOPING TO BE BLUEBIRDS’ DERBY STAR... AND IMPRESS GIGGS
WILL VAULKS is desperate to be a Welsh derby-day hero in order to push his cause for the land of his mother’s.
The Cardiff City midfielder has endured a nightmare six months at club level, which has cast a cloud over his chances of playing for Wales at this summer’s Euro finals.
Scouser Vaulks, who earned his international call-up thanks to his Welsh mum, would give anything to be a match-winner at home to Swansea City today because of the signal it would send to Wales manager Ryan Giggs (below).
The 26-year-old was bought from Rotherham for £2.4million by former Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock and then snubbed after his error cost a goal in an early season 3-0 defeat at Reading.
“It has been by far the hardest six months I’ve had as a player,” admitted Vaulks, who has made just three Championship starts all season.
“I viewed it as a big move, coming here. I picked to come to Cardiff.
“Without wanting to sound big-headed, I chose to come to
Cardiff for a reason.
“The Wales thing played a massive part in that decision. I was coming down to play for a team in the capital and it was about having a relationship with the fans.
“You are never guaranteed to play in football, but I was signed to play. It hasn’t happened, but that’s old ground now and I’m looking for a fresh start under this manager.” Warnock never forgave Vaulks for getting shrugged off the ball in that Reading game and that was the midfielder’s last appearance under the veteran boss, who was replaced by Neil Harris in November.
“I got a bit unlucky in the Reading game. I got done one-v-one and, since then under the previous manager, I played just 45 minutes, so I find some of the stick unfair.
“I am frustrated, the manager knows that and the previous manager knew that. But there is a way to show your frustration.
“I think I try every day to show it the right way and you have to show you are ready to play.”
It has not helped Vaulks’ cause that, in his three league matches, Cardiff have conceded 12 goals – three at Reading, three at Leeds, then six at QPR. But he was bought to score goals, not stop them – a precious talent proven by his record at Rotherham, which led to the five Wales caps he has earned under Giggs.
“When I signed here, I was hoping to hit double figures at least,” he added. “At Rotherham, I got eight goals in each of my last two seasons. No disrespect to them, but we were a club down near the bottom of the league the whole time.
“Cardiff are a much better team and far more attacking. So, goals are something I want to bring to the team.
“It’s a massive ambition for me – to keep playing for Wales.
“Club football and international football go together – and I know that I need to be playing.”