Paul Abbandonato

after the night before. He was still on cloud nine, already looking forward to what was in store for this Welsh team in France.

“This means so much to us, there is an incredible team spirit, togetherness and banter in the side which was summed up perfectly by the way we danced together after Aaron’s goal,” said Ledley.

“It doesn’t matter who is playing, and who is not, every single person is in this together. That’s why Aaron ran over and everyone joined in. We’re not just football colleagues, we’re mates. And take it from me, while I never thought I’d see this moment, we’re not just going to France to have a party and make up the numbers out there. We’re capable of making a real impact... and we will. We beat Belgum and we’ll beat teams in France, too.”

Ledley wasn’t to know just a few months on that his dream could be shattered. Nothing is definitive yet, fractures do heal quicker than a break and Wales’ medics are still holding out hope.

But it really is a cruel blow that Ledley, arguably even more than anyone else, is facing the prospect of missing out.

Why? Because back in 2005 he was the first of the young guns John Toshack identified as the way forward for Welsh football when he was tasked with changing the old guard and bringing through a fresh crop of talent.

Ledley was only a teenager at the time, more a rampaging left-sided,

He was there right through the trying, transition period so he deserves to savour his moment in the sun Paul Abbandonato on

Joe Ledly

goalscoring midfielder in those days, than a holding, get stuck in, anchor man. But the fact he had made almost 250 Cardiff City Championship appearances by the time he was 23 said everything about his stature.

As with Wales, the Bluebirds team had stars who would capture greater headlines. Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, Jason Koumas, Aaron Ramsey himself, Peter Whittingham. But Ledley was the first name on Dave Jones’ team-sheet and he’s one of the first on Chris Coleman’s too.

He was there right through the trying, in-transition period so he deserves to savour Wales’ moment in the sun.

Coleman will give Ledley every chance of proving his fitness, may even risk taking him injured to the Euros in the hope he’ll be fit by the time of the third game against Russia and, we hope, the knockout stages.

But Coleman has to start planning for the worst case scenario and how to replace Ledley, whilst retaining the perfect midfield blend he