Ricketts Earns First Competitive Cap

Swansea full-back Sam Ricketts started his first competitive international match against Austria on Saturday afternoon, yet could not help the Welsh kick-start their slim qualifying chances. Playing alongside the likes of Ryan Giggs, John Harston and Craig Bellamy, Ricketts started Wales' World Cup Qualifying match in the place of first-choice left-back Ben Thatcher...and caught the eye once again.

Whilst his Swansea team-mates were still celebrating from their 2-0 Friday night victory over Macclesfield, Ricketts was playing in front of 49,000 fans in a very tense and nervous fixture. Two late defensive errors from Welsh centre-backs Danny Gabbidon and Robert Page eventually gifted the Austrians a 2-0 victory and finished off Wales' already slim chances of qualification.

Ricketts will remain unavailable for Easter Monday's fixture against Cheltenham Town, as he is likely to win his third international cap on Wednesday night in Vienna, as the Welsh take on the Austrians in the reverse fixture.