No regrets for Darlow over his decision to play for Wales

IN another life, it’s perhaps possible he might have been donning an England crest when the Three Lions march out to face Wales at Wembley tomorrow night.

- TOM COLEMAN Football Writer

Indeed, it wasn’t that long ago Karl Darlow appeared to close the door on the possibility of following in the footsteps of grandfather Ken Leek in pulling on the red of Wales.

Instead, it was England he seemingly had his sights set on, even declaring the chance to represent the Three Lions as a childhood dream.

Additionally, the Leeds United keeper, who turns 35 today, had previously twice rejected the chance to link up with the Wales squad in recent years.

But a call-up for England never material-ised, and an impressive Zoom meeting with current boss Craig Bellamy, helped convince Darlow his international future lay with Wales after all.

"For me, I'm fully committed to Wales and being Welsh," he said ahead of the trip to Wembley.

"So for me now, I'm going to give everything for this country to make sure we come up with a positive result.