Welsh football players. - Young guns

Welsh Football Young Guns update news - by Owain Jones.

Young guns news - Monday 17-Dec-07

Mark Bradley (Walsall - midfielder) Once again started as the Saddlers beat Northampton 1-0 on Wednesday night. The Wales U21 midfielder has gone from strength to strength since breaking into the starting XI and played 90 minutes as they made their way into the third round of the FA Cup.

Ched Evans (Norwich/Man City - striker) Continued his hot scoring streak with a goal from 18 yards as the Canaries start to climb the Championship table under Glen Roeder. The striker hit the back of the net after 2 minutes as his new side ran out 2-1 winners.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Came off the bench and also started in midweek as he gets his match fitness back up. After the 1-1 draw against Burnley at the weekend, the Wales U19 international played 72 minutes as his side were out foxed by Ipswich in midweek.

Max Noble (Fulham - forward) Put in a good shift but it was not to be enough as the Cottagers slipped out of the FA Youth Cup to Portsmouth. The Wales U19 international created problems for the home side, but his side couldn't quite make the break through.

Jonathan North (Watford - goalkeeper) Took a lot of the credit as the Hornets beat Scunthorpe in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. The Hornets ran out 2-1 winners with North impressive between the sticks.

Elliott Parish (Aston Villa - goalkeeper) Was in fine form in midweek as Villa ran out 3-1 winners against Crewe in the FA Youth Cup. The former Wales U16 squad member pulled off some good saves, showing good agility as his side progressed quite smoothly. The Crewe bench contained Alex Titchener (Crewe - striker) who made an appearance during the second half.

Christian Ribeirio (Bristol City - defender) Played the full 90 minutes as the youth side beat Everton to advance to the next round of the FA Youth Cup. They will now play Leeds Utd in round four.

Rhys Taylor (Chelsea - goalkeeper) Made several saves as the Blues sneaked past Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup. The Wales U21 international was forced to show bravery on a few occasions as his side gained a 1-0 victory.

Sam Vokes (Bournemouth - striker) Netted his first goal of the season for Bournemouth but it was not enough for the Cherries as they lost 3-1 to Tranmere. The Wales U21 international scored with a 20 yard drive but it was only a consolation goal.

Young guns news - Sunday 9-Dec-07

Nicky Adams (Bury - striker) Kept up his fine form with a goal for Bury as they beat Exeter City 1-0 in the FA Cup. The Wales U21 international reacted quickest to a save to force the ball home and clinch a place in the next round.

Matthew Collins (Swansea - midfielder) Has returned to the Liberty after a months loan at the Racecourse. The midfielder was signed by Brian Carey, but will not stay on under new boss Brian Little.

Craig Davies (Oldham - striker) Scored again as the Latics drew 1-1 with Luton. After beating a defender, the Wales international angled a drive past the keeper to keep up his sides run of seven games without defeat.

Ched Evans (Man City/Norwich - striker) Scored on his first start for Norwich on Tuesday night. After having a bit of a wait, the Wales U21 international got clear of the defence before slotting home as the Canaries beat the Pilgrims 2-1.

Keiron Howard (Swansea - midfielder) Scored as the Swansea City youth team beta Exeter City 3-0 last Saturday. The win takes the Swans to eight games unbeaten in all competitions and Howard a Wales U19 international helped them on their way with a header in the first half.

Josh Knight (WBA - striker) Proved that he is a young man on the up this week with a goal and a very impressive performance as the Baggies reserves beat Shrewsbury 2-0 on Wednesday night. The young striker burst past two defenders to notch from ten yards as his side cruised to victory.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Got off the mark for the senior side with a superb long range effort last Saturday. The young midfielder picked the ball up and crashed it in from 35 yards, but his goal was not enough to secure any points as his side lost 2-1 at home to Southampton.

Michael Pearson (Oldham/Farsley Celtic - defender) Will be out for three to four weeks with a hernia problem. He went under the knife this week, bringing to an end his loan spell at Farsley Celtic.

Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City - defender) Played 90 minutes as the reserves beat Exeter City 2-1 this week. The Wales U21 centre half has been on the fringes of first team duty for a few weeks now without quite making the step up, but with manager Gary Johnson rating him so highly it can only be a matter of time.

Owain Warlow (Lincoln - midfielder) Started as the Red Imps crashed out of the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest last Saturday. The winger got 60 minutes plus under his belt as the difference in class told with Forest running out 3-1 winners.

Young guns news - Sunday 2-Dec-07

Grant Basey (Charlton - defender) Started twice in four days as the Addicks climbed into second in the
Championship with a win against Preston on Saturday before seeing their five game unbeaten run come to an end against Sheffield Utd on Tuesday night. The one worry is that he hobbled out of action after 66
minutes with a groin injury and is unlikely to be fit for the game against Burnley.

Mark Bradley (Walsall - midfielder) Kept up his hot streak with a goal for Walsall as they beat
Northampton 2-0 at the weekend. After scoring in midweek against France it seems he returned to club
level buoyed by the success and duly put in a fine performance as he also came up with an assist for the
second goal.

Jack Collison (West Ham - midfielder) Grabbed a goal as the East End second string hammered Derby 8-0. The Wales U21 midfielder set up one and scored another as they ran riot against the Rams. It seems that Wales have unearthed a gem in the Hammers second string captain and will do well to convince him to stick with them.

Ched Evans (Man City/Norwich - striker) Was an unused substitute as the Canaries beat Coventry 2-0
last Saturday. It was a good sighter for him before he made his debut after 66 minutes in midweek against
Blackpool. The Wales U21 international came on for Jamie Cureton with just under half an hour to play as
the Canaries ran out 3-1 winners. "He s strong, a goalscorer, very brave and a very
good talent. I think it s very good for him to go on loan and play in not just reserve games so we ll see
what happens with him. He s at a good club and he has to work hard there and hopefully make the results
better for Norwich. - Sven Goran Eriksson, Man City manager.

Chris Gunter (Cardiff - defender) Obviously impressed manager Dave Jones enough whilst away on
international duty with his country, as the full back stepped straight into the starting XI for the vital
1-0 win against Ipswich last Saturday. With the Bluebirds struggling of late it seems that with the
pressure firmly on the manager he could well heed the call and give youth it's head.

Wayne Hennessey (Wolves - goalkeeper) Put in a fantastic performance as the Wolves denied the Baggies
in the local derby last Sunday. Hennessey ensured he could dine out in Wolverhampton for a few years with a late penalty stop from Zoltan Gera as the Midlands derby ended in a 0-0 draw. And a fine save also made sure of all points as they beat Colchester 1-0.

Lloyd James (Southampton - defender/midfielder) Showed his dead ball skills with two corners that led to goals as the Saints had a titanic battle with Crystal Palace. After taking a 2-1 lead, the Saints failed to kill off the game and ended up losing 3-2 on the night.

Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Was back involved with the first team as he starts to claw his way back
into first team contention after injury. After being given his first team debut by Gary Megson, the young
midfielder will now have to prove himself once more to new manager Ian Holloway. He also got 90 minutes under his belt as the reserves drew 1-1 with Huddersfield this week.

Josh Knight (WBA - striker) Put in an impressive shift as the reserves got squeezed out 3-2 in a
pulsating local derby against Coventry this week. Knight who was being chased by Swansea before opting
for the Baggies started up front and played 90 minutes earning praise from coach Craig Shakespeare.

Neil Taylor (Wrexham - defender) Was another U21 international to return to duty this week after being
chosen by new manager Brian Little in his first team selection in the 2-2 draw with Chester last Sunday.
He will now hope that he has done enough to stay in the starting XI for the weekend.

Rhys Taylor (Chelsea - goalkeeper) Made another start for the reserves on Monday night as they took on
an experienced Birmingham second string. Unfortunately the Blues came unstuck, losing 2-0 on
the night with Taylor not having a chance with the goals.

Sam Vokes (Bournemouth - striker) Has not broken rib after a heavy challenge that forced him off early in
the 3-0 defeat against Oldham. The Wales U21 striker has bruising and stud marks on his chest but has now learned that it is only heavy bruising.

Owain Warlow (Lincoln - midfielder) Started as the Red Imps brought their 13 match losing streak to an
end with a win against Notts County. The former Ysgol Rhydfelen pupil got 70 minutes under his belt as they won 2-1.