As Wales manager Chris Coleman names his squad on Thursday for the final two World Cup qualifiers, Josh Thomas reveals how 17-year-old Ben Woodburn has quickly gone from fringe player to focal point.

 

“Su…per, super Ben, su…per, super Ben, su…per, super Ben, super Benny Woodburn”.

That was the cry from the crowd who had just witnessed the teenage sensation make his mark, scoring his first goal for his county after entering the pitch only 261 seconds earlier.

But who is this wonderkid? Where has he come from? Can he go on and be the next Wales superstar?

All important questions, but the crucial one on everyone’s mind is can Wales qualify for the next year’s World Cup in Russia?

The last two games have seen Chris Coleman’s side improve to put themselves back within a shot of qualifying once again for a major tournament and their first World Cup since 1958.

But, as Neville Southall says, “They’re feeling their way from doing fantastically well, to struggling a bit. They haven’t done badly, they just haven’t done great.”

However, wins over Austria and Moldova have seen Wales go ahead of the Republic of Ireland and into second place in their group, behind Serbia.

With top spot looking no more than a remote possibility, Wales can still believe that a place in the play-offs is very much up for grabs as they prepare for the final games away to Georgia and at home to the Republic.

With eight of nine teams making the play-offs one team will be left disappointed but Coleman says, “It is exciting. If we have to get through the play-off, absolutely no problem at all.”

Woodburn – just 17 years old and the hero with his match-winner against Austria and rescue act against Moldova – has now become a key component at the end of a campaign he began as an outsider.

The Liverpool forward was awarded Man of the Match in both games despite only coming off the bench and playing a combined 50 minutes. It shows the difference he makes and the talent he has.

Woodburn was born in Chester and grew up in Tattenhall, only 11 miles from the English-Welsh border. His Welsh heritage comes from his grandfather on his mother’s side.

He signed for Liverpool when he was just eight, discovered by scout and fellow North Walian Ian Richardson, who has seen talent come through the academy for four decades at Anfield.

By the age 12, having been confirmed that he was of Welsh eligibility, Woodburn was placed on a talent identification programme with 25 other youngsters, a plan which establishes the best young talent for that region.

Held two days a week over a seven-week period and repeated over five weeks, it was here that Woodburn started to make a name for himself. Gus Williams, the head coach, saw something that struck him.

“There was excitement, even back then, and naturally your eyes were drawn,” he says.

“Ben showed great football intelligence, was composed on the ball, almost saw the next pass ahead of anyone else. Straight away you could see something different in him.

“When I saw him, his qualities stood out. Even at 12 he was quick, creative, had skill, had power, could score goals – exactly the same attributes we have just seen from him in the senior team.”

Fast forward four years and now on the fringes of the first team under Jurgen Klopp, Woodburn was told he was going to make his debut against Sunderland on November 26, 2016, therefore becoming the third youngest player to play for Liverpool in the Premier League behind Jack Robinson and Jerome Sinclair.

Three days later he once again came of the bench, on the same day as home grown hero Steven Gerrard, 18 years previously. Within 15 minutes of his introduction the youngster was in the right place at the right time to score his first goal and become the youngest ever goalscorer for Liverpool, eclipsing Michael Owen’s record by 98 days.

By March he was called up to the senior Wales squad for the first time. He admitted he couldn’t believe how quickly he was rising, finding himself alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

“Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are world class and I want to replicate what they do,” he declared.

After a successful summer playing for Wales in the Toulon Tournament – where they left France undefeated but were knocked out in the group stage – Woodburn came back stronger and was now hoping to go one better and represent his country at senior level.

After showing huge promise and glimpses of his talent through pre-season, he was once again chosen for the squad to face Austria.

The game was to be played six years to the day Wales played Montenegro in front of 8,194 where they won 2-1. After remaining undefeated throughout their current campaign, they knew another win was critical to their aim of qualification for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

With Chris Coleman sending him on to make his first appearance, the manager later said, “First and foremost he’s a young player if I didn’t think he was going to get through that I wouldn’t put him in because it’s not fair on the lad. I put him on because I thought he had a lot to offer.”

Within five minutes of coming on as a substitute, in front of a crowd of 32,633, he made the kind of impact players only dare dream about.

Midfielder David Edwards said: “It’s what dreams are made of, to come on and win your first cap and score the winner in front of a full house at Cardiff, it’s amazing.”

Woodburn then repeated that level of influence as a substitute in Moldova by setting up the winner for Hal Robson-Kanu.

Ramsey said: “He’s made an impact in both of the games, has real quality and a very big future ahead of him.”

So now, after receiving plaudits from players and pundits alike the future looks bright for this 17 year old.

The question is can he produce over the final two matches to help Wales move nearer towards Russia? If he does, then the name of Ben Woodburn will be remembered for years to come as the player who shaped an entire campaign.