Strength in depth the key for Tash Harding

Ahead of Wales’ World Cup qualifier against France on Friday, Tash Harding says that squad depth has helped Wales hugely.

Cymru currently sit second in Group I, six behind leaders France, but any kind of positive result will be a huge step in potentially qualifying for the World Cup in 2023, and Harding has said the squad depth has certainly played a large part in this.

‘It’s probably strength and the fact we’ve got some great young players coming through. That’s very evident, we’ve got some players now that us senior players or us players playing most games, we trust those that are coming on to not only know their job but to do the job that has been asked of them’

‘Strength in depth has always been our Achilles heel I think in previous campaigns, but this one, especially in Pinatar, it was more evident than before that we’ve got some very good and very talented youngsters’

When asked if the senior players were worried about possibly losing a place to a younger player, the Reading forward smiled, and gave this response.

‘I always say it’s easy to get a shirt but it’s harder to keep it, and some of us have kept a shirt for a number of years and we’re still as competitive as ever’

‘We want to see the youngsters come through, but it’s not as easy to take a shirt off us senior players yet’

Harding has enjoyed a great season with Reading so far, being named in numerous WSL Teams of the Week, and in various different positions too, something she believes gives her an edge on opponents.

‘Someone said this season for Reading that I’ve played full back, winger, centre half, forward, sweeper, a nine and a ten, so not too bad I’m ticking it off the list!’

‘For me, I try to be as versatile as I can, and if I can know what centre halves do or what full backs do I think it gives me the edge as a forward player’

‘That’s what you’ve seen in my games for Wales so far this campaign is probably the best football I’ve played. I’ve scored in most games, I’ve been involved in most goals as well, and that’s what I pride myself on, to be that person people might look to, to try and get us over the line, and I’m living in that moment right now’

Wales’ last competitive match was a 2-0 defeat to France in Guingamp, a result which left the squad somewhat deflated. But Harding believes this shows how far the squad have developed in recent years.

‘It was more disappointment than heartbreak. For us to show disappointment and to be almost quite angry with ourselves that we didn’t get something out of the game shows the mindset we’re in’

‘Before we probably would have been happy with that sort of damage limitation, but for us now we want to push more, and to almost go 1-1 if it wasn’t for the width of a post, to then 8 seconds later to go 2-0 down, it shows the beauty of the game and why we love football’

Wales take on France at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night in a World Cup qualifier, with kick off at 19:45.