Clay fan Kyle will be the key as Great Britain face ‘toughest task’ in Spain

Australian Open semi-finalist Kyle Edmund will lead Great Britain’s side for what captain Leon Smith says is the toughest assignment in the Davis Cup, writes Eleanor Crooks.

Britain head to Marbella next week for a first-round tie against Spain from 2-4 February. There will be no Rafael Nadal but the hosts have seven other players in the top 100 and three in the top 25.

Edmund’s brilliant form in Melbourne this week is a boon to Britain in the absence of the injured Andy Murray but Smith acknowledges that victory would be little short of a miracle.

He said: “It’s the toughest draw. Whoever they pick, it’s the most difficult team you can get in the draw. We will absolutely give it our best shot but something pretty special would have to happen for us to get through that one.”

Smith has taken advantage of new rules to name a five-man team, with Edmund joined by Cameron Norrie, Liam Broady and doubles specialists Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot.

Norrie, 22, has made rapid strides since turning professional last May and is on the verge of the top 100 while Broady, 24, is on the rise again after a dip and is ranked 172. But, as well as the obvious ranking gap, neither man has any kind of pedigree on clay. Norrie has only played five senior matches on the surface, all back in 2013, while Broady’s last match on clay came in 2016 and his last win in May 2015. Norrie is in pole position to take the second spot but Smith will decide between them after the initial days of practice.

The captain, pictured, knows, though, that if Britain are to cause an upset, they must rely on Edmund to carry his form on to a surface he likes. Smith said: “His confidence is going to be in a different place, he is going to feel different about himself. There was a feeling he was going to have a really good year and it’s started that way.

“Rafa says he’s not playing. Can Kyle beat the other guys? Yes. He would have to play well obviously but I think all of us would think he’s got a shot.”

Victory would give Smith’s side a quarter-final against Australia or Germany in April, while defeat would mean they face a play-off in September, when Murray could be back, to stay in the World Group.