Wales U21s hope to benefit from 'club feel'

Wales under-21s boss Matty Jones is hoping training alongside Rob Page's senior side will inspire his team in their own European campaign.

But the training arrangements have been arranged so Page and his coaching team could watch the players of the future.

"The staggered start (to training) is the biggest success," Jones said.

"We can have that taste and flavour of what the players are going into in that first 30 minutes of practice.

"Second to that Pagey and his staff have the important opportunity to hang their heads over our sessions. That is evident, the players speak about it, we see it, it's so visible to everyone.

"That is the importance of this club feel we are trying to create."

Wales under-21s entertain Lithuania in an important Euro 2025 qualifier at Newport's Rodney Parade, on Friday evening.

Wales are currently second in qualifying Group I, with eight points from five games. They are level on points with Denmark, who have played a game less. Lithuania are pointless from three matches.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Zac Ashworth, who is on loan at high flying League One outfit Bolton, said the youngsters were well aware they had been monitored and were pleased to be able to take in some of the senior sessions.

"It's good to be alongside them in camp. You walk past the players and staff every day and walking down to training you catch glimpses of sessions," he said.

"When they are finished they are watching ours and to have their eyes on us as well, even though it's not training with them, there is still an opportunity to impress. That is what we want to do."

Jones stresses his job is to provide Page's Wales squad with "support" and assistance in whichever way he can.

Reading's Charlie Savage and Cardiff City's Rubin Colwill have both played in the under-21 campaign but were named in Page's pool for the Euro 2024 play-off games.

This also works the other way and Jones would not rule out the likes of Colwill and Savage featuring for the under-21s.

But to maintain qualification hopes, Wales need a win over Lithuania. Ashworth said: "We have given ourselves a really good opportunity and we want to win every game we play.

"So obviously come Friday we will be going out there doing what we can to win the game."

After Friday's penultimate home qualifier, a reduced squad will then make the trip to Antalya in Turkey as Jones' side face Olympic Games bound Morocco Under-23s in a friendly on Tuesday, 26 March.