WALES manager Gary Speed has urged Tottenham sensation Gareth Bales to revel in the reputation he made for himself last season and has no doubt the 22-year-old can handle the weight of expectation on his shoulders when the new Premier League campaign gets underway this weekend.
The 27-times capped Spurs winger, who is set to make his first Wales start since Speed replaced John Toshack at the end of last year in tonight’s clash with Australia, heads a list of Premier League stars who will be on show at Cardiff City stadium.
The Wales boss hopes the presence of Bale alongside the likes of skipper Aaron Ramsey, striker Craig Bellamy, Jack Collison and a clutch of Premier League new boys from nearby Swansea City could prompt a late surge of interest from walk-up fans this evening.
“I’ve got the luxury of a near fully-fit squad,” said Speed yesterday. “At this time of the year it’s great credit to the players that they have turned up en-masse. They know how important it is for us in terms of our development.
“Gareth has looked good this week and hopefully he can play his part tomorrow. It’s a big season for him and for every player and it’s only when you come out of the Premier League you realise how important it was and how big a thing it is. I can certainly vouch for that and every player would love to play in the Premiership.
“When you are as young and as good as Gareth the importance probably doesn’t seem that great, but it is. He had a great season last time and hopefully he can kick on again for Spurs and for Wales.
“It’s good that Gareth has a reputation to live up to now because only great players have that sort of reputation. I’d rather have a reputation than not, so Gareth can take the positives from that, I’m sure.”
With club managers less than happy with the timing of this week’s international window, Speed said he appreciated the difficulty and had made a special effort to avoid any club v country conflicts.
“I understand their point of view and I’ve spoken to a lot of them on the phone,” he added. “So the communication is there and we’ll be making sure we look after the players to the nth degree.
“For everyone involved it causes disharmony between international and league managers but it is as it is and we’ll make the best of it. The boys are getting the best treatment here and there’s no way we’ll risk anyone to injury.
“We have assessed all the players fitness-wise, how many minutes and games they have played in pre-season, and we’ll take that into account in making substitutions.
“We’re looking at a good exercise for us against a good Australian team, but we also have to make sure that in two weeks’ time when the next international comes along that our players are fit and well.”
In addition to a fully-fit Bale, Speed is delighted that midfield duo Ramsey and Collison have both completed a tough pre-season after having suffered major injuries in the recent past.
“It’s promising for both of them,” he said. “Aaron played a big part for Arsenal towards the end of last season and in pre-season. Arsene (Wenger) has obviously got big plans for him and he’s played a lot in pre-season, which is great for us.
“Jack has got over his injury and he’s got a great manager who will make sure he is monitored properly and doesn’t break down, so there are exciting times ahead for both of them.”
West Ham’s England-born Collison, who has eight caps to his name, has yet to play a competitive match for his adopted nation, but Speed insisted the 22-year-old’s commitment was not in doubt.
He said: “It’s not something that’s on my mind because even when he was injured Jack came and joined up with us. So I think he’s fully committed and the way he trains and goes about his work here shows that. I don’t have any worries on that score.”
Speed, who has gone on record that his target is to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, said this week’s turn-out of players was evidence they shared his dream.
“A part of that (the turn-out) is that we have given the players a goal and a mission and they can see that and are starting to believe now. They feel there is some light at the end of the tunnel and that they have something to go for and they are all enjoying being here.
“But it could yet be better on and off the field and I think we all have to raise our game. That includes me and the staff as well as the players and we need to be more demanding of each other.
“It’s the same on the pitch. All the players are nice lads, very professional and conscientious, but they need to demand more of themselves and each other if we are going to achieve what we want.
“We need to raise the bar now because we’ve had six months for everyone to settle in and get things right off the pitch. Now is the time to raise the bar and make sure we are ready for this time next year (when the World Cup qualifiers begin).