{"id":52166,"date":"2021-03-16T13:01:27","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T13:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=52166"},"modified":"2021-03-16T14:39:24","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T14:39:24","slug":"cardiff-city-midfielder-rubin-colwill-gets-wales-u21s-call-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2021\/03\/16\/cardiff-city-midfielder-rubin-colwill-gets-wales-u21s-call-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff City midfielder Rubin Colwill gets Wales U21s call-up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Youthful, new look squad also features Brentford’s highly-rated youngster Fin Stevens ahead of Euro 2023 qualifiers.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN uncapped players have been named in Wales U21s’ new-look squad for their first match of 2021, against the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With several players promoted to the senior squad after the last campaign, manager Paul Bodin has taken a chance by fielding a relatively young line up by under-21 standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got to be better or equally as good when they are younger to force their way into the squad, so it\u2019s quite an exciting look,\u201d said Bodin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The youngest face in squad is Brentford\u2019s Finley Stevens, who is Wales\u2019 coup of the campaign. Back in January<\/a>, Bodin made his attentions clear, wanting to secure the talented 17-year-old\u2019s international future with Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The midfielder, who qualifies through his Cardiff-born father, was very receptive to Wales\u2019 attention according to Bodin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFin was open arms to it. He\u2019s delighted he\u2019s in the under-21s because he could have gone into the younger group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite his relatively young age, the Wales manager was impressed by the character he saw at Brentford and the level of maturity Stevens displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bodin said: \u201cI\u2019m hoping he\u2019ll come in, he doesn\u2019t know many of the players, but he\u2019ll get to know them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll have a good integration week, capped with a great opportunity to play against good opposition,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One familiar debutant is Cardiff City\u2019s Rubin Colwill, 18. The midfielder is a rising star having steadily made his way through Wales\u2019 youth system, previously representing Wales at the under-17 level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s come to prominence of late. Mick McCarthy (Cardiff City manager) obviously cast his eye early and likes what he\u2019s seen and certainly I do,\u201d said Bodin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cHe\u2019s versatile. He\u2019s a big strong powerful boy with great technique, so we are looking forward to getting him in and working with him at the highest international level that he will have played so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Neath-born player will be joined by Cardiff City teammate Sam Bowen and Bristol City\u2019s Sam Pearson, who are looking to grow from their experiences at the last U21s Euro 2021 qualifying campaign. Both Bowen and Pearson, from Cardiff, made their debuts in Wales\u2019 five-nil loss to Belgium last October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f CYHOEDDIAD CARFAN D21 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f

The first time Cymru will face @FAIreland<\/a> at U21 level!

The match will be available to watch on FAW channels.

\ud83d\udcc5 13:00 26\/03#TogetherStronger<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/F4QB3g4Hh8<\/a><\/p>— Wales \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f (@Cymru) March 16, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>