Connor Roberts says Leeds United team-mate Daniel James can feel hard done by if he doesn't start Tuesday's crunch play-off final clash with Poland given his recent form - but admits he doesn't envy Rob Page in selecting a starting front three. James started Thursday's semi-final win over Finland on the bench, with Page opting for an attacking trio of David Brooks, Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson, all of whom played their part in a crushing 4-1 win at the Cardiff City Stadium. However, having shown a strong run of form in the Championship with Leeds, James offered his boss a timely reminder of his capabilities by coming off the bench to score the final goal of the night. The winger is one of several Welsh stars to have been handed a central role at Elland Road under Daniel Farke this season, netting 12 goals and racking up seven assists in 37 appearances, and Roberts believes the winger has just as much to offer his country as they bid to mastermind a successful bid to reach Euro 2024. READ MORE: Harry Wilson on 'perfect move' that ended
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fire Wales to Euro 2024 READ MORE: Leeds United star says Wales would welcome Joe Allen back with open arms after recent admission “Fantastic guy, fantastic player, someone who works really hard and just wants to do well," Roberts said. "I said to him the other day it was disappointing he wasn’t in starting XI – some might say hard done by – but take a step back and we’ve got so many players who deserve to play. "It is difficult for us as a team and the manager. We’ve got so many forward players who offer so much but, on the other hand, we do look really good when we play with a back five so it’s one man less [in attack]. "All they can do is when they get the chance is score a goal or contribute and help out. If we manage to do it on Tuesday night, nobody will remember who started games, who played, how many minutes, we’ll just remember the squad who qualified for another major tournament.” Having played alongside James at his beloved Swansea City, Roberts linked up with his international team-mate again courtesy of a January loan move from Burnley, with Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon also seemingly enjoying life in west Yorkshire. Indeed, Ampadu has even been handed the captaincy such is his importance to the team. Roberts hasn't quite managed to make as much of a mark having managed just one start since making the move across the Pennines, but feels this Wales squad as a whole is benefitting from regular game time at club level. "Going into this camp it’s the first time in a very long time where pretty much every single player is playing their part, getting game time. For me, it was strange because I was hoping this season would be good in the
Premier League after last season and I made the decision to go somewhere where I’d get more minutes," he added. "I’ve gone there and I’ve not played every single game but, on that side of things, I need to go in there and use my experience and hopefully get promoted again with Leeds United. "In terms of game time, for me personally, I don’t need to play loads of games to be ready, to stay fit. It kind of comes naturally to me but to go there and get a bit more game time than I was getting at Burnley is good. It showed on Thursday night we’ve got a lot of players who are in a green spell for their clubs so that can only bode well for us as a team for Tuesday.” Roberts has witnessed his fair share of special moments in a Wales shirt already, netting in the win over
Turkey at Euro 2020, and was also named in Wales' first
World Cup squad for 64 years last summer. Qualification for that tournament arrived on the back of a nervy play-off final win over
Ukraine two years ago, and Tuesday's clash with Poland is likely to carry many of the same hallmarks. Roberts himself is certainly expecting a big occasion. “It’s right up there," he added. "For Wales I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of big games – Hungary a few years ago, Ukraine. It’s another one on Tuesday night. "Life,
Football is about moments and Tuesday is another moment, a chance to achieve something, to make memories. That’s what we’ll be trying to do as a team and a country. Hopefully we can all come together and do just that.” Roberts insists there's enough talent in this squad to get the
Job done on the night, but has joked that he might just have a secret weapon that could see his side over the line. The 28-year-old has attracted a fair bit of attention for his facial hair recently, with some even comparing him to Magnum PI star Tom Selleck. As it turns out, his increasingly iconic moustache actually has a pretty good record. “It’s just a little bit of a joke to be honest," Roberts laughed. "My wife last year, she was like ‘Why don’t you grow it?’ So I did and then we went on an unbeaten run at Burnley. "I’ve done the same thing this year and keep asking her if I should shave it off but she likes it so I’m leaving it there. "I think it’s played about 25 Championship games and never lost, so I hope that continues in the Championship and maybe it gives us a bit of luck on Tuesday! "It’s the power of the 'tache, isn’t it!”