Welsh football players. - Young guns

Welsh Football Young Guns update news - by Owain Jones.

Young guns news - Sunday 27-Jan-08

Grant Basey (Charlton - defender) Is building up his match fitness slowly after time out with injury. The Wales U21 full back played 90 minutes as the Addicks drew 0-0 with Palace on Wednesday night.

Jon Brown (Cardiff - striker) Scored with a curled free kick to give the Bluebirds a 1-0 win the FAW Premier Cup. The youngsters were being held 0-0 by Welshpool going into the last 10 minutes at the Maesydre ground, before Brown struck from 20 yards in the 85th to secure passage to face Newport in the semi final.

Jack Collison (West Ham - midfielder) Played 90 minutes as West Ham reserves beat Pompey 1-0, a game that marked the return from injury of Craig Bellamy. The Portsmouth XI contained Geraint Price (Portsmouth - defender) who also got full run out.

Sean Evans (Man Utd - midfielder) Was once again on second string duty as the Red Devils beat Bolton 2-0 on Wednesday night. It seems that he may remain in the Daniel Nardiello bracket, of a player that has refused to pin his colours to any international side.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Crowned the evening with a screamer as the Foxes reserves beat Stoke 2-1 on Thursday evening. King fired in from 20 yards to top off a free flowing move which he started within his own half. He will now hope to be called up to the U21squad on Monday when the squads are announced.

Kayne McLaggon (Southampton - striker) Scored the only goal of the game as the Southampton U18 side beat in-form Charlton 1-0 at the weekend. The Wales U19 striker rose to head home a corner from fellow Welshman Gary Preen (Southampton - midfielder).

Jonathan North (Watford - goalkeeper) Was between the sticks as as the Hornets second string stung Brighton this week. The Wales U19 keeper was in fine form as the reserves ran out 3-1 winners.

Ashton Taylor (Tranmere - defender) Played 90 minutes as the reserves beat Man City 3-2 on Monday night. The ex Wales U15 international got another run out under his belt as he once again started for the second string.
Sam Vokes (Bournemouth - striker) Played as the Cherries popped Luton's bubble to win a titanic battle on Tuesday night. Vokes levelled to make it 3-3 with a strike from the edge of the area, before Pitman took all points from his side with a header in the 94th minute.

Ashley Williams (Stockport County - defender) Made a welcome return from injury as he played 90 minutes in a training game against his team mates this week.

Young guns news - Sunday 20-Jan-08

Nicky Adams (Bury - midfielder) Came up with an assist as manager less Bury produced the shock of the week to dump Norwich out of the FA Cup. The Canaries had problems with the tricky midfielders crosses and after 60 minutes he eventually got his reward as Andy Bishop nodded in the goal that would be the difference.

Simon Church (Reading/Crewe - striker) Scored in a behind doors friendly against Burnley this week. With Owain Fon Williams (Crewe - goalkeeper) also gettting a game between the sticks the Railwaymen went down 3-2 as Church grabbed his sides second goal.

Ched Evans (Man City/Norwich - midfielder) Made an instant impression after being allowed to return to Norwich on emergency loan. The Wales U21 international struck as the Canaries beat Barnsley 3-1 at Oakwell. Only the Yorkshire sides second home defeat of the campaign.

Sean Evans (Man Utd - defender/midfielder) Scored as the Red Devils thrashed Oldham 4-0 on Thursday night. Evans completed the scoring with a jiking run and finish as he got 90 minutes under his belt. The Olham starting XI contained Daniel Knight (Oldham - defender).

Stuart Fleetwood (Forest Green Rovers - striker) Could well be on the move soon as the league clubs start to circle. With Crewe the latest club to have a bid rejected, it seems it will be a matter of when and not if the former Wales U21 striker moves.

Chris Gunter (Spurs - defender) Made his debut in midweek as Spurs advanced to the next round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Reading. It has been an amazing few months for the Newport born full back, with making regular starts for his country and the move to London from Cardiff. With the club in a transitional period under new manager Juande Ramos, it could be a good time for him to establish himself as a regular starter with so many doubts hanging over senior full backs such as Pascal Chimbonda.

Lloyd James (Southampton - defender/midfielder) Spun and thumped home a goal as the Saints reserves ran riot against Aldershot on a wet Tuesday night. James playing in the back four has not had a look in with the first team this season and the goal will have done his confidence the power of good.

Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City - defender) Played in the FA Youth Cup as the Robins beat Leeds 2-1 with a last gasp winner. They will now face either Reading or Manchester City in the fifth round.

James Wilson (Bristol City - defender) Scored for the U18 team as they lost 2-1 to Reading over the weekend. The young defender is now building up his fitness as he returns from injury.

Young guns news - Sunday 13-Jan-08

Grant Basey (Charlton - defender) Returned to action at the weekend in the 1-1 draw with the Baggies in the FA Cup tie. He also played 46 minutes for the reserves as they downed Aldershot 2-0 on Monday night. It will now be very interesting to see if he is chosen in the U21 squad for the away tie in Malta in February.

Jack Collison (West Ham - midfielder) Was back in reserve team duty at the start of the week after his appearance for the seniors at the Emirates. The reserve team captain played 90 minutes as the Hammers were beaten 2-1 by Villa. He was joined in the starting XI by James Collins (West Ham - defender) who is strongly rumoured to be leaving for first team game time this month.

David Cotterill (Wigan - forward) Came off the bench to put in a fine performance as the Latics angered Roy Keane even further with a 3-0 win against Sunderland. The Wales international who was in the wilderness under the old regime at the JJB Stadium came off the bench after 15 minutes to score in the second half as he highlighted to new manager Steve Bruce that he could play a part in the fight for survival.

David Edwards (Wolves - midfielder) Has seen his career progress again with a move from debt crippled Luton to Wolves. He will surely be sad about missing out on the trip to Anfield in the FA Cup, but will be happy that he is making another move up in quality. He follows Chris Gunter (Spurs - defender) in making a move after being given game time during the Republic of Ireland and Germany ties by national manager John Toshack.

Sean Evans (Man Utd - midfielder) Scored one and missed another sitter as the Red Devils drew 2-2 with Everton in a second string encounter this week. After missing a glorious chance from a penalty rebound, the Wales qualified winger struck an equaliser into the bottom corner as the game finished level.

Chris Gunter (Spurs - defender) Made the bench on Saturday as he got his first pitch side glimpse of the power of the Premiership teams as Spurs drew 2-2 with Reading. With his sides defence leaking more than a Tetley tea bag, he may get a chance sooner than he thinks.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Made a second half appearance as the Foxes tried to plug a sinking ship as his side conceded two early goals against a rampant Southampton. After the break things got better with the game finishing as the first half finished.

Rhys Taylor (Chelsea - goalkeeper) Fresh from first team bench duty kept a clean sheet as the Blues reserves drew with Portsmouth on Monday evening. The Wales U21 international has seen first team squad duty much sooner than he thought after the injuries to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini and will now have an eye on stealing the number one shirt off Owain Fon Williams (Crewe - goalkeeper) in the February international against Malta. The Pompey back four contained Geraint Price (Portsmouth - defender) who played the full 90 minutes.

Rhys Williams (Middlesborough - defender) Got back into the swing of things after a troublesome knee problem this week as the Boro reserves drew 0-0 with Wigan on Wednesday night. The Wales U21 centre half had a highly effective game as the back four managed to keep things tight.

James Wilson (Bristol City - defender) Came through a behind closed doors reserve game against Fulham last week with a clean bill of health after his recent knee operation. The young defender was also due to play a reserve team game this week, but bad weather put halt to it.