Easter determined to grab chance

12 October 2009 15:17
The Cardiff-born striker has been recalled to the squad for the first time since his last cap in Luxembourg in February 2008. Wales boss John Toshack has turned to the in-form MK Dons striker, who has hit nine goals in 11 games this term, in a chronic injury crisis. Toshack could not even fill his substitutes' bench for the 2-1 defeat by Finland in Helsinki in Saturday's World Cup qualifying match. Easter, 27, should now make his comeback in the final Group Four match in Vaduz against Liechtenstein on Wednesday. The recall comes at just the right time for Easter, who is rebuilding his career under manager Paul Ince with the League One club, having moved from Plymouth in the summer after a nightmare spell in the West Country. Easter fell out with manager Paul Sturrock, playing just 36 games and scoring only six goals, before citing personal problems and moving on. The striker, who made his name with a wonder-goal against Chelsea in the Carling Cup while at Wycombe, said: "I was surprised to be called up again by Wales, but it was a good phone call to get. "I have been scoring goals of late and it has been something I have had on my mind, hoping to get a recall. "Maybe last time I did not do myself justice, I may have been in awe of certain people. "I was at Wycombe and I found myself suddenly alongside Premier League players, and that was tough. The standard was different and I didn't get many starts or a run of games. "Then Plymouth was the wrong move. It was a rushed move, a forced move. I should never have done it and thinking back it was wrong. "But you learn from your mistakes, and I have certainly done that now. "I wanted to play at a higher level, that is why I left Wycombe. Plymouth, at the time, were the only option and maybe I should have stayed another six months at Wycombe to see where things took me." On his international prospects, Easter continued: "I had never given up hope (of a recall), but last season at Plymouth things just did not go well and then I got injured and missed three months. "The chance of being called up in that situation was remote. I always felt that I would get another chance if I did get away from Plymouth and started playing regularly. "I've got a lot to thank Paul Ince for. I was only thinking on the flight over that in the two months I have been at MK Dons, I have learned a lot more than I ever learned in the two years I was at Plymouth under Paul Sturrock and Kevin Summerfield. "I am really enjoying it, Paul Ince is a great manager to work for along with his coaching staff of Karl Robinson and Alex Rae. "Things are only going to get better for me while I am at a club like that. "They have worked on the weaknesses in my game, and I have worked hard to improve. I will continue to do that and hopefully go from strength to strength. "Incey demands high standards all the time, the intensity of training every day is high and that is the reason I have started to score goals again, I am working for a great manager." He added: "I hope I can translate my current goalscoring form into international football. Given the chance on Wednesday I aim to be in the right place at the right time to finish things. "One thing missing on my CV is an international goal, I have only had seven caps so there is still time. Hopefully I'll do that on Wednesday. "I am a confident lad when I am scoring. I believe I can score at any level."

Source: Team_Talk