 Nyatanga made his Wales debut aged 17 years and 195 days |
Lewin Nyatanga says his display in a record-breaking Wales debut has given him the confidence to believe he has a future on the international stage. Nyatanga, 17, hardly put a foot wrong as he became Wales' youngest player in a 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Wednesday.
"It was a good evening for me. I really enjoyed it," the Derby defender told BBC Wales Sport.
"But this is the first step. I've got to keep working hard - hopefully there will be more performances like this."
A toe infection had threatened to scupper Nyatanga's hopes of breaking Ryan Green's record as the youngest Wales international.
But once he proved his fitness in Tuesday's training session, manager John Toshack had no hesitation in putting him into a near full-strength side for the St David's Day match at the Millennium Stadium.
Nyatanga slotted in seamlessly to Wales' defence on the left-hand side of a three-man backline alongside Danny Gabbidon and James Collins.
He said he was unfazed at the prospect of re-writing the record books, stressing that keeping his place in the side will be his biggest challenge.
"Getting my debut doesn't take any of the pressure off," said Nyatanga, who qualifies for Wales through his Welsh-born mother and is the youngest player to captain the Under-21 side.
"I still want to become a better player, so I'll keep putting that pressure on myself to keep improving."
Goalkeeper Paul Jones was given a surprise start in ahead of 21-year-old Lewis Price, but Toshack said he felt Nyatanga needed the experience of the 38-year-old QPR stopper to guide him through.
And Jones said: "I was a bit surprised to get the nod, but I still enjoy playing and want to go on as long as I can.
"As for Lewin he looked confident and it was a great debut. I'm 38 and he's 17 so there is a big gap between us and seeing kids like that playing does make me feel my age a bit.
"But I want to continue playing as long as I can."
Ryan Giggs once held the record a Wales' youngest player, and the captain said Nyatanga's solid defending and intelligent distribution proved he will become a key part of the Welsh squad.
"It was a very good debut; he didn't put a foot wrong," said 32-year-old Giggs.
"His passing was good, but he's been good in training all week and he'll keep on improving.
"If he does that he'll have a place in the Wales team for years to come."
MMIX
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