Delaney’s retirement

Right-back Mark Delaney’s enforced retirement – having been unable to shake his knee injury – is a blow for Wales.
I used to watch Delaney when he played for Goodwick – before he moved up the line to Carmarthen Town.
He was already 22 by the time he got to Cardiff City so his full professional career (mainly at Aston Villa) has been short.
Everyone knew he was something special in his Goodwick days – and even I recognised his talent.
I wasn’t always so keen-eyed. I once reported on a schoolboys’ international featuring both Simon Davies and Damien Duff – but mentioned neither of them in my write-up.