MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 20:30:18| >> :600:192517:192517:

Joe Ledley sets sights on playing for Wales again

The 32-year-old midfielder left Derby in the final hours of the January transfer window.

Joe Ledley is determined to find a new club this summer and help Wales reach the 2020 European Championship finals.

Ledley has been without a club since leaving Derby in the final hours of the January transfer window.

But the 32-year-old midfielder insists he still has plenty to offer both at club and international level.

"I decided to leave Derby in January because I knew I wasn't going to play there," said Ledley, who has been training on his own and is now free of the hip injury which restricted him in the early part of the campaign.

"I was hoping to find a new club then, but it's come to the stage where it's difficult with clubs fighting for promotion and against relegation.

"I think I'll be in a better position in the summer because clubs will know where they are for next season.

"I'm confident in my ability to play at a high level, I proved that at Derby last season as we only lost a few games after I went there.

"I had this situation before when I left Crystal Palace and it took me four to five months to sign for Derby. My fitness was never a worry, it's about getting the opportunity to play football again."

Ledley has played nearly 550 games in a 15-year club career which started at hometown club Cardiff and has also taken in Celtic, Palace and Derby.

He has also won 77 caps for Wales, placing him seventh on the all-time list, but his last appearance was 11 months ago in a 0-0 friendly draw with Mexico in Los Angeles.

Since then, manager Ryan Giggs has turned increasingly to youth as a new and exciting Wales team has started to take shape.

"I definitely want to play for Wales again," said Ledley, a key part of the side which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in France.

"I'll never retire from Wales until actually I officially retire from football – and the aim is to get to the Euros in 2020.

"I haven't spoken to him (Giggs) about my situation, but I can't expect to be picked when I haven't got a team.

"So it's down to me to get a club and start playing again. If I do that I'll hopefully be back in the squad.

"We've had a great start to the campaign with the win over Slovakia, and the youth and experience we've got is a good mixture to have.

"We've got some quality players coming through. But I'm sure the manager knows what us older boys bring to the table, not just on the pitch but off it as well."

Ledley's great friend and former Palace team-mate Wayne Hennessey is among the experienced Wales players that Giggs has at his disposal.

But the Palace goalkeeper has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons recently after being accused of making a racist gesture during a club meal.

The Football Association said a breach of the disciplinary rules had been "found not proven", but Hennessey provoked widespread disbelief after telling an independent regulatory commission that he did not know what a Nazi salute was.

"We all know that Wayne wouldn't do anything like that," Ledley told Press Association Sport at a McDonald's Fun Football programme event in Cardiff.

"We always speak and, the way he is, I'm sure this won't affect the way he plays.

"He'll have to shrug that off and concentrate on playing football.

"He's a great guy, we all appreciate what he does for Wales on and off the pitch, and I'm sure he'll be ready for our games in the summer."

::Joe Ledley was speaking at a McDonald's Fun Football Centre. The Fun Football programme is designed to introduce children to football and you can register for a session at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/funfootball

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Phil Blanche, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '5427546b-9a54-44bc-aed8-9b12424a2c20');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Joe Ledley determined to win back place in Wales side'});

ID:357814: cacheID:357814:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6390:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ashley Williams during a Wales training session on May 21, 2018
Read Next:
Ashley Williams airs frustration after Wales axe
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!