A number of Wales players will have welcomed UEFA’s decision to push Euro 2020 back until next summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Midfielder Joe Allen, a hero in Wales’ route to the semi-finals at Euro 2016, would have missed out on the tournament if it had gone ahead this year after suffering a ruptured achilles tendon playing for Stoke City.
While David Brooks, who has not played a single minute for Bournemouth this season, also looked set to miss out on a place in Ryan Giggs’ 23-man squad due to a lack of match fitness.
Wales manager Ryan Giggs faces the media.
Wales v Azerbaijan Media Session at Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
But both will now have plenty of time to recover before next summer and will be pivotal to Giggs’ hopes of replicating Wales’ heroics in France four years ago.
There are, however, several other players who could also benefit from the postponement of the tournament.
But competition for places in Giggs’ squad is fierce, and many players will have to be playing regularly next term if they stand any chance of making it on the plane in 2021.
Here are three Welsh players who could benefit from loan moves next season…
Ben Woodburn
After announcing himself on the international scene by netting a late winner in Wales’ 2018 World Cup qualifier against Austria, many Wales fans could been forgiven for letting their minds wander and thinking what could be ahead for Ben Woodburn.
But things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Liverpool youngster.
Despite impressing Jurgen Klopp and becoming Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer when he scored against Leeds United in the League Cup in 2017, it was always going to a challenge for Woodburn to nail down a place in the Reds’ starting line-up.
Injuries have stunted Woodburn’s progress in recent seasons (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
A loan move away from Anfield appeared to be exactly what he needed to get minutes under his belt and he was subsequently loaned out to Sheffield United, where he made eight appearances last season.
However, any hopes of making a major impact for Chris Wilder’s promotion-chasing side were dashed, as the youngster struggled for regular game-time and returned to Liverpool earlier than expected after damaging his ankle.
Woodburn, who has managed five assists and one goal since joining Oxford United on a season-long loan in the summer, has been out of action since October after breaking a bone in his foot.
Woodburn netted a dramatic winning goal against Austria to announce himself on the international stage (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
But the suspension of the League One season and the EFL’s decision to settle the table on a points-per-game basis could see the youngster make his long-awaited return from injury by featuring for the U’s in the play-offs.
Woodburn’s difficulties at club level, coupled with his injury problems, have resulted in his international career suffering, with the 10-capped international having made only four appearances under Giggs since his appointment in January 2018.
The youngster has been on loan at League One side Oxford United this season (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
It’s also difficult to envisage how Woodburn will break into Klopp’s plans over the coming seasons, given the talent in the runaway Premier League leaders’ squad.
And another loan move away from Merseyside next season could be pivotal to any hopes he has of making it on the plane to Euro 2020.
Dylan Levitt
A highly-rated Manchester United youth product who has earned rave reviews from Wales boss Giggs, Dylan Levitt looks to have a promising career ahead of him.
The 19-year-old has been a regular for United’s under-23s this season, helping them on their way to a second-placed finish in the Premier League 2 table, scoring twice and providing four assists in the process.
Levitt has played in the Europa League for Manchester United this season (Photo: Kane Brooker)
Giggs has already tipped the youngster for big things and had no qualms in calling him up to his squad for five of Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Despite making his senior debut for the Red Devils in a UEFA Europa League clash against Astana in November, Levitt is still waiting to make his first appearance on the international stage under Giggs.
Levitt has been tipped by Ryan Giggs to go on to big things (Photo: Kane Brooker)
But the postponement of Euro 2020 could allow the talented midfielder to stake a claim for a place in Giggs’ 23-man squad next summer.
The question now is whether Levitt, who has been at United’s academy since he was eight, will benefit from staying with the under-23s against next season, or looking elsewhere for more first-team opportunities.
And a loan move away from Manchester in a bid to secure regular game-time may increase his chances of featuring in his first major tournament next year.
Danny Ward
After featuring in Wales’ Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia in place of the injured Wayne Hennessey four years ago, goalkeeper Danny Ward certainly enhanced his international credentials.
However, the seven-capped international has since found opportunities under Giggs tough to come by and has continued to play second fiddle to Hennessey, who has struggled for regular game-time with Crystal Palace this season.
Ward is yet to make his Premier League debut for Leicester City (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
The goalkeeper joined Leicester City for £12.5m in July 2018 in a bid to challenge Kasper Schmeichel for the Foxes’ number one jersey, although he is still waiting for his Premier League debut.
Ward, who turns 27 later this month, still has plenty of time to become a regular starter for Wales, and it’s doubtless that he would’ve been included in Giggs’ squad if Euro 2020 took place this summer.
Ward started Wales’ opening game against Slovakia at Euro 2016 (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
But a loan move away from the King Power Stadium next season in a bid to gain more first-team minutes under his belt could allow Ward to become a real contender for the starting berth at next year’s tournament.
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