Bellamy praises Wales rising stars

Mar 23 2008 by Chris Wathan, Wales On Sunday

CRAIG BELLAMY believes Wales’ new breed could make all the difference when it comes to this year’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

And the Wales’ skipper admits one of the brightest hopes could yet be up there with the best this country has ever produced.

Bellamy, who will miss Wednesday’s friendly with Luxembourg through injury, is full of praise for Toshack’s next generation.

But he singled out Cardiff City’s Aaron Ramsey in an interview with Real Radio.

The West Ham striker said: “We’ve got some really talented players coming through and really progressing.

“In Wales we’ve always had players down the years who have looked really promising but at the moment it is especially true.

“The standard of guys like Aaron Ramsey is excellent and I’ve really enjoyed watching him. Very often, players can get recommended and people talk about them but they fade away. But this boy’s getting better every time. At the moment he’s 17 but if he carries on the way he has he could be one of the best players to have come out of Wales.”

Bellamy has taken a keen note of the age-group side’s progress since being named senior captain under Toshack, recently helping recruit Upton Park team-mate Jack Collison and giving a team-talk to the Under-21 side after their Ninian Park win over France.

And he added: “They are doing really well at the moment in their campaign and if a couple of youngsters push through and one or two make it then the senior squad will be a lot stronger.

“This qualifying campaign is going to be tough and we have a tough group but we’ve got to put up a decent show.

“Hopefully, with one or two players coming through and players staying away from injury we can have a right go.”