Jack Collison talks to Sport Wales on BBC TWO Wales on Friday at 2100
Wales midfielder Jack Collison has dismissed fears that he may switch international allegiances and commit his future to Wales' rivals England.
The West Ham United youngster has won six Wales caps but as he has not played in a competitive Welsh international, so he could change his mind.
Watford-born Collison, 21, is dual qualified due to his Welsh grandfather.
But he insists: "Even if there is interest from England, I have made my decision and am going to stick to it."
Collison made his Wales debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in May 2008 and has won five caps since - but all of them have come in friendlies.
Wales have played 10 competitive international matches - their entire 2010 World Cup qualification campaign - since that narrow win in Reykjavik 18 months ago, but Collison has missed them all.
The West Ham academy graduate - who has followed England stars Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe off the Upton Park production line - has suffered a series of niggling injures when Wales have played.
And the youngster missed Wales' World Cup qualifier with Russia in September on compassionate grounds following the death of his father.
Wales now do not play another competitive international until their opening European Championship qualifying opener in September 2010 while England play in next year's World Cup in South Africa.
Highly-rated Collison is playing regularly in the Premier League and his impressive appearances have the attracted interest of top four side Arsenal.
Under new Fifa rules, a player can switch his international loyalty if he is yet to play a competitive game - like former Wales Under-21 defender Rhys Williams did when he won a call from World Cup-bound Australia, the country of his birth.
But Collison told BBC TWO Wales' Sport Wales programme: "I'm desperate to play a competitive game for Wales but every time I have a game for Wales, I pick up a niggling injury or miss it through one reason or another.
"I'm a little bit disappointed and getting a bit of abuse from the boys!
"It is something I want to do as I've chosen to play for Wales and am very proud to do so.
"Hopefully it won't be too long before I can play a competitive match and put the rumours to bed.
"I feel with Wales we have a lot of very good talented young players like Aaron Ramsey who are keen to progress as individuals and as a team.
"And then we've got experienced guys like James Collins, Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon who can help guide us to a major championship."
Like at his club, for his country Collison is surrounded by a host of talented youngsters such as Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale in John Toshack's youthful side.
"I'm happy with my decision," concluded Collison. "And that should be that."
*Catch the full Jack Collison interview on Sport Wales this Friday on BBC TWO Wales at 2100 GMT
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?