John Toshack believes Swansea and Cardiff have done Wales proud this season

The Swans lead League One by six points and look set for a return to the second tier of English Football for the first time since 1984 having almost equalled the club record for unbeaten league games.   Cardiff, on the other hand, are in the last four of the FA Cup and will meet Barnsley in the semi finals at Wembley next month for a place in the final.

Add to that the Under-21s have an excellent chance of reaching the finals of their competition and some encouraging results for the full side on the pitch there are reasons to be optimistic for Toshack after he named his squads for the games at the end of the month.   He included Owain Tudur Jones, Shaun MacDonald and Joe Allen in those squads and was quick to heap praise on the Welsh league clubs who are enjoying their success in two very different competitions

“I don’t know about any promotion jitters at Swansea. They have been on an incredible run,” said Toshack.

“I have seen them a couple of times and actually they have not played that well, but I have been assured they are playing some very good football.

“You would have to think with the season they are enjoying that the opportunity to move up a division is right there for them.

“The only thing, and it is not a criticism, is that I wish they had a few more Welsh players for me to have a look at.#

“It is incredible how Cardiff seem to have sneaked up on the semi-finals,” he said.

“I saw them against an awfully poor Wolves side but then they went to Middlesbrough and completely outplayed them.

“Now they are at Wembley and they have a fantastic opportunity against Barnsley. They now have as good a chance as anyone of winning it.”

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