GIGGSKNOWS MY NUMBER...
Hedges won’t give up on Wales dream
With his peroxide blond hair, wand of a left foot and string of fine performances under his belt , Ryan Hedges must be wondering what else he can do to catch the attention of Wales manager Ryan Giggs.
The Aberdeen winger made his international debut against Panama three years ago but hasn’t been called up since featuring in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in March 2019.
Although Hedges started last season on fire, he failed to nail down a regular berth in Derek McInnes’ starting line-up and fell out of the international picture. ture.
However, the 25-year-old old has been vital to his side’s s play this term as the Dons have started the campaign in excellent form.
That hasn’t been enough to earn a spot in Giggs’ squad for the upcoming fixtures against England, Ireland and Bulgaria, but Hedges is targeting a call-up for matches in November.
He said: ‘I’m enjoying my football and the role the manager has given me, so my confidence is growing in every game and long may that continue.
‘That (playing for Wales) is definitely an ambition and obviously not getting a call-up this time is a disappointment, but I just have to keep working hard to make it happen.
‘If I keep doing that then I’m sure it will come and there are another couple of games coming up next month, so that has to be a target.
‘I haven’t heard from Ryan recently but he’s got my number and if he wants to ring me up I am available.
‘ T h e r e ’s the European Championships to work towards next summer, so there is a real target to aim for with Wales.
‘When I signed here last year the ambition was to play regular first team football and make the Welsh squad for the finals.
‘That hasn’t changed now the competition has been moved to next summer but that means doing it every week for Aberdeen to get a glimpse of getting there.
‘I certainly feel there’s more to come from me in terms of goals and assists despite a good start, but the important thing is the team are winning.’
After Friday night’s last gasp victory over St Mirren, Aberdeen go into the break full of confidence following six wins in their first eight Premiership fixtures.
When they return, they host
Dundee United before back-to-back clashes against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final and in the league.
Hedges said: ‘A trip to Hampden is a massive thing for me as that was something I wanted to do when I first signed for the club.
‘That will be something to look forward to but we are going there to win, so we can go back again for the final.
‘We have worked so hard to get to the semi-final at Hampden and the supporters should be there to watch us play but the way things are it doesn’t look like that’ll be happening.
‘We just have to make sure we go there with the right mindset and hopefully get the right result.
‘From what I’ve gathered the Dons fans always travel in numbers to Glasgow for these occasions and I’ve seen the pictures of Lewis Ferguson’s winner at Hampden against Rangers (in the 2018 Betfred Cup semi-final). That looked amazing
‘Celtic will miss their big following at the game but so will we. Nobody wants to play in an empty stadium but that’s just the way it is nowadays and it’s a great chance to go on and get a winners medal.
‘Now Europe is over for us, the focus is on doing well in the league and getting winners medals in the cups, as there is potential for three finals this season.’
Goals from Marley Watkins and Lewis Ferguson sealed the three points for Aberdeen against St Mirren after Ethan Erhahon had fired the Buddies into the lead.
Despite falling to their sixth consecutive defeat, striker Jonathan Obika insisted there were positives to take from the game.
He said: ‘It’s tough but we can take confidence from sticking together for 90 minutes and looking like a threat. We’ve lost a few games and we just need to make sure that this is the minimum (level of performance).’