Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn scored for Wales on his international debut.
Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale says that he persuaded Ben Woodburn to reject England and play for the Wales national team.
Woodburn was born in Nottingham, grew up in Chester, and is eligible to play for Wales through his grandfather.
The Liverpool youngster grabbed the headline last weekend when he came off the bench to score a brilliant long range goal for Chris Coleman’s side in their World Cup qualifier against Austria just four minutes into his international debut.
Bale is in absolute admiration of the teenager’s goal and said that he wanted Woodburn to join Wales because they knew “he was a great player”.
“It was a great strike,” Bale said, as quoted by The Times. “I remember meeting him and I had a little chat with him, and obviously I wanted to get him on board because we knew he was a great player and we’re delighted to have him,” Bale said. “He’s Welsh anyway so he’s ours.”
The 17-year-old is a highly talented player who became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history last November when he scored against Leeds United in the League Cup.
Woodburn is likely to be on the substitutes’ bench against Moldova on Tuesday night.
Wales have to win their game at Zimbru stadium to keep their hopes alive in Group D.
Coleman’s side play away to Georgia and host Ireland next month, and the results of those two games will seal Wales’ fate.
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