Rags to Riches for Paul Parry as Sparky Calls
International?
By Chris O'Brien
February 17 2004
With the number of absentees mounting in the Welsh national squad for the upcoming friendly international against Scotland, Mark Hughes has called on City's recent acquisition Paul Parry. It's truly is a fairytale story for the left winger considering he was playing non-league football weeks ago.
| Rags to Riches for Paul Parry as Sparky Calls |
| Cardiff City's Paul Parry has earned a
shock call-up to the injury-ravaged Welsh national squad from Mark Hughes. The call just shows how far Parry has come this year. Only a few weeks ago Parry was playing non-league football for Hereford United, but since his £75,000 move to Ninian Park everything seems to have gone right for the youngster. A handful of impressive performances from the 23-year-old since his move to the Welsh capital have got the City supporters on his side early-on, and the call to the national side has confirmed what a bright prospect Cardiff have in the left winger. "I really cannot believe I'm in the team hotel as a member of the Welsh squad." said Parry. "A short time ago I was watching them from the stands against Russia during the European Championship play-offs. "Last month at Hereford I remember there were not another shower-proof jackets for everyone in the squad, and now look at me. It truly is an unbelievable shock!" Despite the great news for Parry it is important the Chepstow-born players keeps his feet on the ground. Despite a great start to life as a Bluebird, Parry has only made five first-team appearances and maintaining a level of consistency must be the goal for him. The Welsh call has only come due to Mark Hughes' squad full of injuries and last minute pull-outs, but if Parry continues to develop in the way that early indications have shown, then it is clear he is capable of establishing himself a place in the Welsh squad regularly. Parry joins team-mates Robert Earnshaw, Daniel Gabbidon and Rhys Weston in the squad, and is expected to play at least a small part of the 'Battle of Britain' friendly international against Scotland. Weston was a previous omission to the squad, but was also called upon by Sparky due to the number of players who were pulling out for Wednesday's clash at the Millennium Stadium. Senior squad players John Hartson, Craig Bellamy, Mark Delany, Mark Pembridge, Andy Johnson, Jason Koumas, Nathan Blake and Adrian Williams have all pulled out of the squad, and Darren Barnard is in league action for Grimsby Town on Tuesday night. The absentees have also seen AFC Bournemouth's Carl Fletcher and Crystal Palace's Kit Symons added to the squad, in a game where both teams will be under-strength. Congratulations to Paul Parry on his call-up.
The complete squad is now as follows: |