Roberts right back in charge
CONNOR ROBERTS once doubted he had a football future but now has ended Chris Gunter’s eight-year reign as Wales’ right-back.
The Swansea defender started to believe he was destined to underachieve in the lower leagues as he struggled for games while on loan at Middlesbrough and Bristol Rovers last year.
But 12 months on he is starring in the Championship and starting under Ryan Giggs, at the expense of 91-cap Gunter.
“A lot of people didn’t expect me to be there for that game against Ireland, but I performed well and scored the goal,” said Roberts, ahead of tomorrow’s Nations League match against Denmark.
“It’s all about learning from the senior players. I’m not going to come in here and say I’m going to get more caps than Chris Gunter because what he has done is an incredible achievement.
“If I can get half the appearances he has then I will be happy. I just want to keep learning off the likes of him, Ashley Williams, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey because they’re world-class players.”
Gunter is one match away from equalling Neville Southall’s 92-cap record after going on an incredible run of playing 63 Wales games in a row. Roberts watched the Reading man play a key role in Wales’ run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
But he aims to be the player Giggs turns to if they make it to the tournament in 2020.
“I was on holiday and couldn’t afford a ticket,” he said. “I watched on TV wearing my Under-21s jersey, with family and friends, so hopefully next time they can be in the stands and I can be on the pitch.”