Liverpool's Ben Woodburn joins Gareth Bale and four others as Wales' great teenage sensations

Sport360 staff 18:44 03/09/2017
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  • Teenager Ben Woodburn became an instant Wales hero when he scored a winner on his debut against Austria.

    Woodburn netted within five minutes of his arrival as a second-half substitute, but the 17-year-old Liverpool striker is not the first to break through at such an early age.

    Here are five other players who represented Wales before their 18th birthday.

    RYAN GIGGS

    Cardiff-born Giggs captained England schoolboys as he was educated in Manchester, but he became Wales’ youngest-ever player at the age of 17 years and 321 days when he was capped against Germany in October 1991. The Manchester United star went on to captain his country, scoring 12 goals in 64 appearances.

    RYAN GREEN

    Giggs’ record as the youngest-ever Wales player was beaten by Green. The Wolves defender was capped against Malta in June 1998 but made only one further appearance in Tunisia. Green went on to play for Bristol Rovers and Hereford among other clubs.

    LEWIN NYATANGA

    Defender Nyatanga took Green’s record in 2006, appropriately enough on the St David’s Day date of March 1. Nyatanga was 17 years and 195 days old when he played in a goalless draw against Paraguay in Cardiff. He went on to win 34 caps during a career which has also taken in Barnsley, Bristol City, Derby and Northampton.

    GARETH BALE

    Cardiff-born Bale lowered the record even further in May 2006 when he made his debut against Trinidad and Tobago at the age of 16 years and 315 days. Bale became Wales’ youngest goalscorer the following October – at 17 years and 35 days. The forward played for Southampton and Tottenham before completing a then-world record £85.3million move to Real Madrid in 2013.

    HARRY WILSON

    Broke Bale’s record to become Wales’ youngest-ever player when he played against Belgium in October 2013 at the age of 16 years and 207 days. Has not played for Wales since, but has been in recent senior squads and the midfielder made his Liverpool debut in an FA Cup tie at Plymouth in January.

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