DAN JAMES is on a double mission of keeping Leeds in the Premier League and taking Wales to the World Cup in Qatar.
The £25million attacker faces Norwich at Elland Road today with the Yorkshire club losing their last six games to put them firmly in the relegation scrap.
Dan James is hoping to keep Leeds in the Prem AND lead Wales to the World Cup
Then James will spearhead Wales’ forward line alongside Gareth Bale against Austria in a play-off semi-final on March 24 in a bid to take the next step of reaching the global finals – a feat the Dragons have not done since 1958.
James said: “It would be very good. At the moment it’s just concentrating on Leeds but at the back of your mind we’ve got these massive games coming up. Games everyone is looking forward to.
“The whole country will be behind us like they were in the Euros. It’s going to be a tough game and we have to prepare right.
“I’m really excited for Austria. As soon as the tickets came out it was a sell out. It’s massive for the country, for us and after the Euros we just want to get into another competition like this.
“For us to get into the World Cup would be a massive achievement for the whole country and we fully believe in ourselves.”
James, 24, has become a Prem regular since leaving Manchester United last August and has played 27 games for Leeds.
The 30-cap Wales star has added to his game by filling in as a striker with Patrick Bamford out for long spells through injury and he may have to fill a similar role for his country with Kieffer Moore out with a broken foot.
James told S4C’s Sgorio programme: “I thought I wasn’t going to play there as much. With injuries, it’s been a thing I’ve had to do. I’ve enjoyed it.
“It’s helped me when I do play out wide that I know what positions I want to be in as a nine, when to release the ball, what times the striker wants the ball, whether to make the front or back stick.
“It’s been a big learning curve and it’s been good. It’s definitely going to help me going with Wales.
“It’s very unfortunate that Kieffer’s out but we’ve got a lot of players in there who can fill in and do well.
“Everyone who has come into the squad has always done well.
“As a squad we’re a big family group and we fully believe in ourselves to go and get to the World Cup.
“I’m at that age now where, how can I go and improve? And that is by playing games at the top level. As a player, you always want the consistency of games and it was a massive reason why I came here.
“I’m absolutely loving it. It’s gone so quick because I’m enjoying it so much.”
LOOKING FORWARD
Barring injury, James will be named in Robert Page’s Wales squad on Wednesday for the crunch semi-final in Cardiff a week on Thursday with another home tie at stake for the Dragons against either Scotland or Ukraine in June.
James said: “Going into the Belgium game we always had it in the back of our minds that we would get play offs but it was important to get the point so we got that home tie.
“We have that advantage but we know Austria are a great team so it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
