Church set for Wales service

28 May 2009 08:56
The 20-year-old from High Wycombe, who qualifies for Wales through his grandparents in Newport, is one of three uncapped youngsters called up to face Estonia in a friendly at Llanelli. Church, along with Swansea's Joe Allen and Leicester's Andy King are all expected to be blooded against the Estonians, ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier in Baku against Azerbaijan. For Church it is an exciting end to a season that has seen him sent out of loan to Leyton Orient, and then recalled for Reading's failed bid to reach the play-off final. Church says: "I am just glad to be part of things and hoping to make an impact, the boss (John Toshack) has just told me to do what I normally do and enjoy it. "I have had a pretty interesting season, doing well for the under-21s and being out on loan at Orient and straight into a relegation battle. "It was a hell of an experience for me, and thankfully they managed to pull well clear of the bottom before I was recalled by Reading for the play-offs. "The relegation thing was a real learning curve. To go out and have to win games because so much depended on it was a bit different to reserve-team football. "It was excellent to be called in for the play-off game with Burnley, but very disappointing to lose. But I got a good taste of first-team football and now really hope to get more chances. "We haven't got a new manager yet, but it is up to me to impress whoever takes over from Steve Coppell and try to force my way into the first team." And Church cannot wait for his Wales debut, saying: "I'm really hoping to get my chance in this one. I have learned a lot from the under-21 campaign which almost took us to the UEFA finals. "I have also scored a good number of goals at that level and believe I can do the same with the seniors. "People keep telling me I am a natural goal scorer, but when you are playing in a side with the likes of Aaron Ramsey behind you putting things on a plate, then I will score. "Now I aim to do the same thing for the seniors, and Aaron hopefully will be around to set me-up."

Source: Team_Talk