I’m an ex-international manager who gave star his debut at 16 to keep him from England’s clutches – now it’s paying off

CHRIS COLEMAN hailed Harry Wilson after his heroics kept Wales’ Euro 2024 dream alive.

Former Dragons and Fulham boss Coleman gave him his first cap at the age of 16 in a 1-1 World Cup qualifier against Belgium in October 2013 — to stop England from pinching him.

And a decade later, Wilson’s second-half brace against Croatia on Sunday in his 50th Welsh appearance left Robert Page’s side two wins away from next summer’s tournament in Germany.

Cookie, 53, said: “Harry was brilliant and I’m delighted for him.

“He’s fulfilling the potential we saw in him all those years ago.

“He was only 16 when he came in and I gave him his debut.

“I could see straight away he had the ability and the appetite to be an important player for Wales for the next ten or 15 years.”

Wilson, 26, could have qualified for the Three Lions through a grandad.

Coleman added: “It was a decision that I felt needed to be made.

“I didn’t know my own future at the time, I hadn’t signed a new contract and it could have been my last match in charge of Wales.

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“But I was looking at the bigger picture for Welsh football.

“He could have gone to play for England but we knew he was a Welsh boy. The result was good for us that night but just   as   importantly, we secured Harry for Wales.

“I’m glad I made the decision because I knew he would be an important player for the country moving forward.”

Ex-Wales forward Craig Bellamy, who played his final international match in Brussels that night, disagreed with his gaffer’s decision to bring Liverpool academy midfielder Wilson on for Hal Robson-Kanu in the 87th minute.

Bellamy, who won 78 caps, claimed that the substitution devalued the achievement of playing for Wales.

At 16 years and 207 days old, Wrexham-born Wilson is the youngest player to be capped by Wales, beating Gareth Bale’s record by 108 days.

Cookie added: “I wasn’t bothered about what people were saying, we started to blood the next group coming through.”

Sunday’s 2-1 win moved Wales second in Group D behind Turkey — who have already qualified — and Croatia.

Victories away to Armenia and the Turks in Cardiff next month would book an automatic qualification spot.

Coleman, who led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, said: “It’s a huge result.

“It opens the door and there are six points to be had.

“It won’t be easy but it’s very possible to qualify now.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk