{"id":1091396,"date":"2019-05-30T15:51:56","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T14:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1091396"},"modified":"2019-05-31T13:45:49","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T12:45:49","slug":"wales-wonderkids-ryan-giggs","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/wales-wonderkids-ryan-giggs\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight Wales wonderkids you need to know about"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since Ryan Giggs took charge of the Welsh national team in January 2018, the former Manchester United winger has brought a number of new faces into the squad.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to the great work of the previous manager, Chris Coleman, there was already a solid platform\u00a0on which Welsh football could build.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7273460-five-things-we-think-will-happen-in-the-2019-champions-league-final-and-in-the-europa-league<\/p>\n

However, Giggs has appreciated that star talents such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey\u00a0won’t be around forever and that\u00a0a supply line of young talent had to be ready to supplement the senior players in his squad.<\/p>\n

It was, therefore, no surprise to see that, in Wales’ emphatic 4-1 win over the Republic of Ireland\u00a0in last September, Giggs gave competitive international debuts to six players under the age of 23.<\/p>\n

At Squawka, we’ve taken a look at the young players who featured from that impressive result and the games since, as well as some of the other Welsh wonderkids\u00a0who are building a bright future for the Dragons.<\/p>\n

1. Ethan Ampadu\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Age:\u00a0<\/strong>18<\/p>\n

Club:\u00a0<\/strong>Chelsea<\/p>\n

Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Defensive midfielder\/centre-back<\/p>\n

Caps:\u00a0<\/strong>6<\/p>\n

Considering Ampadu made his competitive debut for hometown club, Exeter City, at just 15 years old, it comes as no surprise that the now-Chelsea youngster is at the very forefront of Ryan Giggs’ plans.<\/p>\n

He put in a superb man-of-the-match performance on his competitive debut against the Republic of Ireland, outmuscling Jonathan Walters to set up Aaron Ramsey’s goal. He followed that up with another 70 minutes against Denmark. Having already made seven first-team appearances for Chelsea last season under Antonio Conte,\u00a0Ampadu has sent a message to Maurizio Sarri about his plans to break into the first-team at Stamford Bridge next season \u2013 if Sarri is still in charge, of course.<\/p>\n

2. Ben Woodburn<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>19<\/p>\n

Club:\u00a0<\/strong>Liverpool<\/p>\n

Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Forward<\/p>\n

Caps:\u00a0<\/strong>10<\/p>\n

One of the\u00a0most talked-about players from this crop of young talents, Ben Woodburn already has 10 caps and two goals for the Welsh senior side.<\/p>\n

Woodburn also has 11 appearances for the Liverpool first-team under his belt. Half a season on loan with Championship side Sheffield United didn’t do much for his development, but he is now back at Liverpool and will be aiming to impress Jurgen Klopp in pre-season.<\/p>\n

3. Matthew Smith<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>19<\/p>\n

Club:\u00a0<\/strong>FC Twente (on loan from Manchester City)<\/p>\n

Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Midfielder<\/p>\n

Caps:\u00a0<\/strong>5<\/p>\n

Following the path of so many talented Premier League youngsters, Matthew Smith spent the 2018\/19 season on loan in Holland with FC Twente.<\/p>\n

The 2010\u00a0Eredivisie winners suffered a shock relegation in 2017\/18 but they will be back in the top-flight next term – Smith scored two goals in 34 league appearances for Twente to aid their promotion.<\/p>\n

His performances earned him an international call-up, and he made his competitive debut for Wales by replacing Ethan Ampadu against the Republic of Ireland. He has made four more appearances since.<\/p>\n