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Football

24th Mar 2019

Swansea youngster Daniel James marks first Wales start with winner in Euro 2020 qualifier

Wayne Farry

daniel james

He continues to progress impressively

Prior to the 2018/19 season few people outside of the Liberty Stadium were aware of a footballer named Daniel James. Fast forward a few months however and the 21-year-old is one of the hottest properties in the second tier of English football.

James has attracted the attention of a number of top clubs, and was reportedly close to sealing a deal from Swansea to Leeds United in January before club bosses unilaterally pulled the plug on the move.

That disappointment appears to have been shaken off quickly though, if his form since then is anything to go by.

Internationally he has also been making headlines, after securing his first start for Wales on Sunday in their Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff.

Eligible to play for Wales through his Welsh father, the Yorkshire-born winger was hugely impressive in the match, scoring Wales first and only goal in a game which kicks off their qualifying campaign exactly how manager Ryan Giggs would have wanted.

That goal came just five minutes into the match after a David Brooks pass to Gareth Bale was snuffed out by a Slovakian defender. Unable to take the ball under control, the defender was quickly dispossessed by James, who took a touch, set his sights and launched a cracking shot Dubravka in the opposition goal.

It was a sweet strike, and it will do James’ chances of a move further up the football pyramid absolutely no harm at all.