Wales manager Ryan Giggs is fully aware of the form of Hibernian striker Christian Doidge and admits the player is “on the radar” going into the upcoming friendlies.
With dates set for games against Austria, USA and the Netherlands before Euro 2020, Giggs stated that the 27 year-old striker is “someone we’ll be looking at closely over the next few weeks.”
Doidge has been in fine form for Hibs this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, which could earn him his first international call-up.
“He’s someone who I looked at actually 18 months ago. I say at looked at him, I went to watch him at Bolton and he came on with ten minutes to go which has been the case a lot of times.
“He’s someone who, obviously, is scoring goals. He was at Forest Green, Bolton and started in the Welsh Leagues.
“When you have a goalscorer, it doesn’t matter what level, they know where the back of the net is.
“He’s someone who we’re looking at closely over the next few weeks, obviously with the games coming up.”
A prospective call-up would mark a remarkable rise for a player who almost packed in football altogether.
Doidge briefly stepped away to play basketball for his country after being released by Bristol Rovers but resumed his footballing career with Cwmbran Celtic.
He later played for Croesyceiliog, Barry Town United and Carmarthen before moving to the English non-league with Dagenham & Redbridge.
Giggs agreed that an international call-up for Christian Doidge would inspire many a player in the Cymru Leagues and in non-league in the English system.
“The message it sends out is that you can go to Welsh League clubs and still get to the top,” added the Welsh boss.
“Jamie Vardy is a prime example of a player who has played in the lower leagues and has then gone on to win the Premier League and win caps for his National Team.”
“Young players are going out and playing men’s football as quickly as possible.
“Now, there’s a lot of things you have to take into account. Do the team play the right football? But exposing them to that physicality I think will happen more often.
One of Doidge’s former clubs, Barry Town United, has been earmarked as one of the clubs leading the way in the development of young Welsh players by the Dragons boss.
Young duo George Ratcliffe and Sion Spence spent Phase One at Jenner Park, benefiting from the vital first-team experience.
“In the Welsh League, at Barry they’ve had players from Cardiff playing men’s football, playing regular, I think it can only help them,” added Giggs.
“Playing the right way, not just lumping it forward, because then they come to me and I want to play a different way.
“I think the message it sends out is that you can go to Welsh League clubs and still get to the top as well.
“The development of the league is growing more and more and you need to carry that on.
“Whether it be players who are late developers, who need that physicality and regular football that they’re not getting at bigger clubs, it can happen.”
(Featured Image: Barry Town SC and Lewis Mitchell)
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