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Fulham winger
Jordan Evans |
The Championship may be the Premier League's poor relation but for one Wrexham-born teenager playing in England's second-tier next season would mean fulfilling a dream.
Jordan Evans knows a successful Uefa Elite Round qualifying campaign with Wales Under-19s and an impressive pre-season could see him force his way into the Fulham first team.
Evans, at home on either wing or at left-back, has seen his pathway to the first team cleared by the departures of Damien Duff, John Arne Riise and Matthew Briggs.
But the 18-year-old former Borras Park Rangers ace knows only hard work over the next two months will give him a shot at first team football.
"There are always opportunities coming around, you've just got to take them," explained Evans prior to leaving for Portugal with Wales U-19s.
"Playing as high as I possibly can is what I want to do and I don't want to be someone who will settle for what they've got.
"I always want to be better and that means playing as high as I can. I also want to represent my country."
And with the likes of Patrick Roberts, Moussa Dembele, Cauley Woodrow, Chris David and Buomesca Tué Na Bangna all making appearances for Fulham as they were relegated from the Premier League, the dream is alive for Evans.
"It is good to see because it shows that there is a pathway to the first team," continued the former Penley student.
"Making the first team is always the dream.
"I've trained with them quite a few times this season and I trained with the reserve team a lot.
"Any young player needs experience so if you can train with the first team it is bound to help as you are playing with people who are there.
"You want to get to where they are, so training with them can only improve you.
"I've always thought I've done well when I've trained with the first team. I've just got to keep working hard and see where it takes me.
"You never know what will happen, but I've got to take an opportunity if it comes."
If Evans can replicate his club form on the international stage against Belgium, who Wales face today, Portugal (Friday) and Greece (Monday), then he will surely be in Felix Magath's plans.
Fulham came agonisingly close to winning the FA Youth Cup against Chelsea, but three goals in the final 15 minutes saw their rivals win the two legged tie 7-6 on aggregate.
Victory would have completed a memorable hat-trick for Evans and his team mates following the Under-18 Premier League title and Dallas Cup success in recent seasons.
"We were so, so unlucky not to win it," said Evans, who gave away a first-half penalty in the second-leg. "It was horrible losing it, but that is the way it goes.
"It was a crazy game and amazing to watch for the neutral, but being two goals up on aggregate with 15 minutes to go meant it was horrible to lose."
It comes as no surprise given Fulham's recent success at youth level that players have graduated to the first team, certainly not to Evans who has trained alongside the likes of Woodrow and Dembele on a daily basis.
"The team is very, very good. The best players I've played with," he highlighted. "All of them are good players and so good to play with because they all have something, they all have an A-game.
"It is so good to train with them every day and play with them because you are always learning.
"Some of the things the boys can do are top class.
"When I first went down I was 15 and I trained with the U18s, so I was training two years above.
"They were top players and I was thinking 'this is going to be me in a couple of years hopefully'.
"Ever since I've started at Fulham there have been class players around me and when you play with good players you improve."
As well as developing physically from the youngster scouted by Fulham playing for Wrexham against Tranmere Rovers, Evans has continued to improve technically.
Known for his attacking flair while at Wrexham under Steve Cooper and Andy Davies, which was helped by his ability to run at opposition full-backs, Evans has been learning the defensive side of the game since heading to the capital.
"When I was younger I played left wing or right wing," he said. "When I went to Fulham and started with the U17s I started playing left-back and I did enjoy it to be fair.
"Over the course of the two years I've been here it has varied between left-back and left wing.
"I had a stint at number 10, just in behind the striker, but left wing is my position.
"In the game now full-backs are old fashioned wingers though, so as long as I'm playing one of those positions I don't really mind.
"Before I went down I was just a left winger, but now I can play at left-back and the defensive side of my game has improved a lot. I have improved so much overall."