Jack Collison could take a major step towards appearing at the 2009 European Under-21 Championship when he plays for Wales away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday afternoon.
The 19-year-old midfielder has been a revelation for club and country this season. Not only as he captained the West Ham United reserve side to the top of their table, he has scored twice in three U21 internationals since making his bow back in November. Collison qualified for Wales via his grandfather and the club's fourth Welshman after Danny Gabbidon, James Collins and Craig Bellamy is now sensing the chance to make history with Brian Flynn's side and secure a place at next year's finals in Sweden.
"It is a massive game for us as a team. If we win in Bosnia we have got a great chance of qualifying," Collison said before the long trip to Sarajevo. "The U21s have never qualified for anything. At the moment they are the priority with Wales. I know the senior squad have got a friendly with Luxembourg and obviously it would be nice to get involved there but the main aim for Wales is the U21s because they are so successful."
Wales are top of qualifying Group 10, a point ahead of Romania who they meet home and away in August and September. This week's game could give Wales a four-point advantage before that double-header, a commanding lead to have when only the group winners, with Mark Noble's England looking likely to take Group 3, are guaranteed a play-off spot. The four best runners-up from the ten UEFA sections will also go through but Collison is more than confident of making sure of top spot.
"There is a lot of good talent there. We are a very young team. The average age is only 18 or 19. [Manchester City prospect] Ched Evans is firing for Norwich this season, young Aaron Ramsey has been playing week in, week out for Cardiff. Obviously he is flying. A lot of clubs will be looking at him. There are a lot of boys there to look out for." None more so than Collison himself, who made his debut against Bosnia at the end of 2007 and capped it with a "pretty decent goal" that saw him surge past three players, play a one-two and then round the goalkeeper to score.
He was also on target in his most recent reserve-team outing as West Ham United beat Reading 2-1 last week and at the weekend found himself receiving high praise from manager Alan Curbishley. Having made his first-team bow on New Year's Day, Collison is expected to get his first start soon. "It is exciting times. It has been a good season but I want more of it. I don't want to stop here. I need to work my way into both first teams and take it from there."