Welshman Danny Ward is number one for Huddersfield Town fans – and now he’s out to achieve that same status with Jurgen Klopp and Chris Coleman.
Liverpool manager Klopp has already said he wants Ward, who is on loan at Huddersfield, back at Anfield next season, while the Wrexham-born goalie is keen to impress Wales team boss Coleman.
Ward, still only 23-years-old, was spot on for Huddersfield in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, keeping a clean sheet and producing a big penalty save.
The Terriers won 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw against Reading to join Championship title winners Newcastle United and runners-up Brighton in the Premier League next season.
Huddersfield’s victory was the biggest match of Ward’s career so far. He saved two penalties in a dramatic shootout against Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-final second leg – and was the spot-kick king against Reading in front of 77,000 spectators.
“I’m not the hero,” said the modest Ward. “For me the heroes are the lads who scored our penalties.”
Wales international Ward, who came through Wrexham’s Academy, is on a five year contract at Anfield and highly-rated by Klopp.
One of the first things Klopp did when he was appointed Liverpool manager was to recall Ward from a loan spell at Aberdeen.
The goalkeeper made two first team appearances and was an unused substitute on another 25 occasions, while he started for Wales in their Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia in Bordeaux last June.
Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have been Liverpool’s top two goalkeepers this season – and Klopp reached out to Huddersfield manager David Wagner.
The two German managers trust each other and Ward made 45 appearances for Town this season. He missed the play-off semi-final first leg against Sheffield Wednesday because he was suspended after being sent off against Cardiff City in their final Championship match.
Ward handled outside the penalty area and was shown the red card.
“He has played a brilliant season,” said Klopp. “He is our (Liverpool’s) player, we will bring him back next year and then there is more competition.”
Huddersfield will want to keep Ward and Klopp, without doubt, will talk to Wagner about that.
Ward has had an amazing season, a breakout campaign, in helping Huddersfield return to the top flight of English football in 45 years.
Ward kept out two penalties in a dramatic shoot-out against Wednesday and was again the Terriers’ hero as he kept out Jordan Obita’s Reading effort.
Christopher Schindler fired the winning penalty to earn his team victory in a match worth £170m to the winners. Huddersfield, who finished fifth in the Championship, are in the Premier League.
No matter where Ward plays in 2017-18, Liverpool or Huddersfield, he will be at a Premier League club. He may fancy staying in Yorkshire, playing regularly at the top level and building a case to be Wales number one.
“Wayne (Hennessy) has been brilliant for Wales,” says Ward. “He’s been number one for a number of years and I can’t say enough about him.
“On a personal note it’s just a case of chasing him and trying to catch the eye in the training and perhaps change the expectations the manager may have.
“It’s going to be a hard task but it’s one I will relish over the next couple of years.”
Liverpool signed Ward from Wrexham five years ago. He has played for Wales schoolboy, u-17, u-19, u-21 and senior levels.
HIs season-long loan spell with Huddersfield is over and Ward can celebrate a season of success.
But the young man from North Wales is hungry for more success and said at Wembley Stadium after the win against Reading: “It hasn’t quite sunk in but the desire has been unbelievable.
“I can’t put it into words. Like the semi-final we had to keep going and luckily it went in our favour.
“We fully deserve it and there is so much work that goes on. It is something I have never seen before.”