Welsh football players. - Young guns

Welsh Football Young Guns update news - by Owain Jones.

Young guns news - Sunday 28-Jan-07

Grant Basey (Charlton - defender) Flew the flag solely for the academy on Monday night as the reserves took on Chelsea. It was another very encouraging performance for the powerful left footer, with the U18 skipper linking play well and very rarely being caught out as the Addicks ran out 1-0 winners. He will now hope to make Brian Flynn's U21 squad for February.

Matthew Collins (Fulham - midfielder) Ccontinues to impress at Fulham this season after missing the whole of last season with hamstring injuries. His captain's performances prior to Christmas, saw them beat West Ham 4-1, Arsenal 1-0 and draw 1-1 with Spurs. Once again he was instrumental in their win at West Ham this week, setting up both goals to seal a 2-0 victory and further extend Fulham's recent unbeaten run.

Kyle Critchell (Southampton/Chesterfield - defender) Played his first game in the Spireites shirt this week in a reserve team friendly against Derby. The game finished 1-0 to the Rams and the Wales U21 international will now look to play a part in the first teams squad away game against Huddersfield.

Rob Davies (WBA - midfielder) Scored from the spot as the Baggies beat Huddersfield 4-2 on Wednesday night. The Wales U21 international fired home the penalty as his side cruised through.

Ryan Doble (Southampton - ) The Southampton Under-16 player suffered a broken leg playing against Ipswich recently. But the Injury has not stopped Saints offering the Torfaen-based player a Scholarship, which starts next July. It will further boost the Welsh connection with Welsh under-17 international Kayne McLaggon (Southampton - striker) also going full-time next season. Both are graduates of Saints Bath Satellite Academy and the Satellite Academy manager Rod Ruddick stated: ''Both Ryan and Kayne have progressed really well this season and are both playing regularly with the full-time under 18 Academy team.'' They will join Bath graduates Welsh international Gareth Bale and Welsh under-21 international Lloyd James.

Wayne Hennessey (Wolves/Stockport - goalkeeper) Put in a fine performance as Stockport beat Peterborough 3-0 at the weekend. The Wales international who is on loan at the Edgeley Park made two good saves in the first half which gave his side a platform from which to build from.

Lloyd James (Southampton - midfielder) Struck an equaliser in the first half as the Saints U18's came from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 at Staplewood last weekend. It was a well needed win with the Saints trailing the Londoners by 11 points in Group A going into the weekend.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Scored with a header as the Foxes beat Spurs 3-2 last Saturday. The Wales U19 international grabbed his sides second goal as they came from 2-0 down to clinch all three points.

Sam Vokes (Bournemouth - striker) Signed his first pro-contract this week as the club strives to tie him down as the vultures from higher divisions started to circle. It was rumoured this week that Villa were one club that were looking to tempt him away. The 17 year old has signed a pro contract until 2010. "He's come into the centre stage very quickly and done well." Joe Roach, Bournemouth Youth team coach.

Young guns news - Monday 22-Jan-07

Craig Davies (Wolves - striker) Struck as Wolves avoided an upset at Boundarry Park with a 2-0 win over Oldham on Wednesday night. It remains to be seen whether Davies will be called into the full Wales set up for the game v Northern Ireland as the full international is still serving a five match ban after being sent off during an U21 international. The Oldham starting XI contained Neal Eardley (Oldham - defender).

Michael Chedwyn-Evans (Man City - striker) + Ashley Williams (Man City - striker) Were both on the bench for the reserves in midweek as the City reserves thumped Bolton 4-1. Manager Stuart Pearce has shown that he is not afraid to throw youngsters into the fray and that he values the academy at City.

Tom Evans (Swindon - midfielder) Is another Wales youth international through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup as his side beat Yeovil 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Wayne Hennessey (Wolves/Stockport - goalkeeper) Got his first taste of League Two football as Stockport beat Boston 2-0 last Saturday. It was a lucky old afternoon for a goalkeeper who has been very unlucky with injuries over the past couple of seasons, with Boston striking the bar on three occasions.

David Jones (Derby - midfielder) Scored with a stunning free kick at the weekend as the Southport born midfielder showed why he is rated so highly by Derby manager Billy Davies. The dual qualified schemer scored with nearly the last kick of the game as the Rams moved into second spot in the Championship on level points with leaders Birmingham.

Owain Warlow (Lincoln - midfielder) Was so near but yet so far again last weekend as he once again was an unused sub as the Red Imps drew 1-1 with Shrewsbury. The former Rhydfelen pupil has been a regular feature on the bench without getting any first team action.

James Wilson (Bristol City - defender) Lashed in a shot from 10 yards to score his sides second of four goals as the City U18 team progressed to the next round of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-0 win over Chester. The Wales U19 international scored after the ball fell to him as the away side struggled to deal with a corner. The match also contained a straight red card for James Owen (Chester - midfielder) the U16 international who was sent off for dissent. James Wilson was joined in the starting XI by Josh Klein-Davis (Bristol City - striker) and Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City - defender).

Young guns news - Monday 15-Jan-07

Thomas Bradley (Bristol City - goalkeeper) Has taken his first steps on the route to becoming a full time professional footballer after signing for League One high flyer's Bristol City. The Blaenau Gwent born stopper will train twice a week with the Robins as the 14 year old prepares for games against Football League and Premiership academies.

Kyle Critchell (Southampton - defender) Will not be joining Chesterfield in the near future after the clubs played down stories linking him with a move to the Spireties. "I don't think there's anything in it. Chesterfield were going to have a look at him, but the game they watched he was only on the substitute bench. He's just one of many players we're looking at, there's nothing special in at at this point." Chesterfield club spokesman. It now seems the story has rumbled on and that Critchell may be about to join Swindon on a months loan.

Simon Church (Reading - striker) Started 2007 with a bang as the Reading U18's beat MK Dons 3-1 last Saturday. The Wales qualified forward got his sides opening goal as the Royals made it eight wins out of the last ten games.

James Constable (Walsall/Kidderminster - striker) Can't stop scoring for Kidderminster as the striker made it eight goals in eight starts last weekend against Vauxhall Motors. "I'm loving it here at the moment and it's great to be playing regularly but, as has always been the case, I want to make it in league football with Walsall." James Constable.

Craig Davies (Wolves - striker) Scored his first goal for his club in the FA Cup tie draw with Oldham, but was disappointed that it didn't come with a victory.The Wales international netted just before half time with a bullet header at the near post.

Michael Chedwyn-Evans (Man City - striker) Played the full 90 minutes as Man City reserves started 2007 with a win. City ran out 2-1 winners in front watching scouts that Stuart Pearce had gathered, as he tries to get some loan moves for some of the talented youngsters. The City bench contained Ashley Williams (Man City - defender) who qualifies for Wales through a grandparent.

Russell Fry (Hull - midfield) Returned to reserve team action this week with a goal for the Tigers as they beat a Lincoln side containing Owain Warlow (Lincoln - midfielder) 2-1. The former Wales U16 squad member struck in the 73rd minute to ensure that his side picked up the win.

Wayne Hennessey (Wolves/Stockport - goalkeeper) Has joined Stockport on a months loan and is expected to make the starting line up for his new side on Saturday against Boston Utd. At the start of the season the Wales U21 international was due to make an appearance in the league for Bristol City whilst on a similar loan spell, but popped his shoulder in training on the Friday before the game. So he will be hoping that the 13th of January does not bring similar bad luck.

Darren Moss (Crewe - defender) Has been urged to take his chance and stake a permanent spot in the starting XI after right back Jon Ostemboor was placed on the transfer list. It has been a tough old start to the season for the ex Shrewsbury full back after having a catalogue of injuries that has restricted him to one start, but manager Dario Gradi is now urging him to take his chance and claim a regular start.

Michael Pearson (Oldham - defender) Made an appearance at centre half for the reserves this week as they entertained Blackpool. The game finished in a 1-1 draw with Pearson getting 90 minutes of action in an unfamiliar role.

Jamie Price (Birmingham/Tamworth - midfielder) Got his first taste of FA Cup football last weekend as Tamworth failed to produce a giant killing act against the Canaries. The Wales U19 international came on as a second half substitute with just over half an hour to go as Norwich ran out 4-1 winners.

Owain Fon Williams (Crewe - goalkeeper) Made the Crewe bench on Wednesday night as the Railwaymen beat Chesterfield 4-2. The Wales U19 international has had rotten luck with injuries over the past few seasons and will now look to get some games under his belt and maybe a call up to the U21 squad.

Young guns news - Sunday 7-Jan-07

Neal Eardley (Oldham - defender) Again highlighted that there may be another attacking full back in the Wales ranks with another goal as the Latics beat Gillingham 3-0. The Wales U21 defender saw his shot deflected into the net.

Jamie Price (Birmingham - midfielder) Has gone on a months loan to Tamworth to try and gain some match experience. The former Cheltenham Town youth team will now hope to get some valuable game time under his belt.

David Vaughan (Crewe - midfielder) Has broken his nose and will be out of action for a few weeks. It is not known how long for until the swelling goes down, but manager Dario Gradi is disapointed as the Wales international seems to be regaining form of old.

Sam Vokes (Bournemouth - striker) Scored twice last Saturday but it wasn't enought to secure any points as the Cherries went down 3-2 to high flying Scunthorpe. The young striker qualifies for Wales through a Welsh grandparent and will be over joyed with how his season has gone so far having broken into the first team and just signed his first pro-contract.