Dave Edwards is one step closer to the dream of making the Wales squad for Euro 2016 after being named in a 29-man squad for a training camp in Portugal at the end of the month.
The squad, not including Gareth Bale due to his Champions League final commitments with Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid, will head to Portugal on May 23rd ahead of the final 23-man squad being named for France on May 31st.
Edwards broke his metatarsal for Wolves at QPR on January 23rd, but has recovered well, starting four of the last five games of the season and coming off the bench on the final day against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
“It’s great news for me to have got into this training squad which is the first part of it really,” he says.
“I have got myself back out there playing and come through four full 90 minutes which maybe I wouldn’t have expected to when I picked up the injury.
“To be named in the 29-man squad now gives me the opportunity to go out to Portugal, have a good week’s training, and hopefully make the 23.
“Over the next week to ten days I will keep myself ticking over and do some running work to make sure when I get to the training camp I am in the best shape possible.
“It’s been good since I came back in that I have had no issues at all with the foot and physically I feel really good.
“I’m just disappointed that the season has finished to be honest.
“Usually by the end of the season you feel ready to go away and go on holiday but with the injury that I had it kind of feels like I have had a bit of a break, even though it was hard work to get back.
“On the positive I do feel very fresh and don’t feel like I sometimes do after a long, hard season when you can certainly feel it in your legs as you get to the last month or so.
“I don’t feel like that at all so I am just looking forward to linking up with the lads and getting back out there at the training camp.”
Edwards believes there is a very healthy competition amongst the tight-knit Wales squad which will see everyone pushing each other to try and make the 23.
“There will be 29 lads out there and all of us will be dreaming about playing for Wales in a major competition,” he explains.
“We are all very good friends off the pitch which helps and we will all be trying to give the manager some good selection problems.
“Hopefully everyone stays fit between now and the end of the season with the lads in the Premier League and the cup competitions and we can all turn up in Portugal in good shape.”
