Ashley Williams believes that the future is bright for Wales with the latest crop of young stars

The Welsh Under 21's near miss at qualification for next years summer finals - they lost 5-4 to England on aggregate - has led Swans defender Williams to believe that now they have come through the ranks, the senior team can push on and end their 50+ year wait for a major finals.

Williams won his 7th Welsh cap in Germany in the last qualifier - a game that Wales lost narrowly 1-0.

Speaking to Wales on Sunday, Ash said “The talent coming through is unbelievable and I think we will qualify – if not for this one then the next one

“The average age of the side is a lot younger than it was before and it is going to get younger.

“Maybe the performances we have had recently are because we have got no fear now.

“Maybe we just don’t know any other way.

“We are not fearful because we are just young lads playing football.

“You look at any nation playing well and the core of the team has been together for a good three or four years.

“If we can stay together now and stay fit when we meet up it will almost be like a club side getting back together.

“I think we will have a brilliant team in a few years when we all get to know each other.

“It will be strange that when the lads from the under-21s come through we will be the experienced players even though we are still only young ourselves. It is going to be a very exciting time.”

Williams also singled out Aaron Ramsey - who scored his first Arsenal goal in the Champions League win this week - for special praise “He is a quiet lad, not arrogant in any way and I was really impressed with him when he trained with us.

“I think he is a brilliant player, a special talent.

“It is fantastic that he is Welsh.”

Photo: Action Images

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