City's Welsh players look ahead to Oslo match

IF you look up 'remarkable rise' in the journalist's dictionary of footballing cliches you'll probably see a picture of Paul Parry staring back at you.

In six months the 23-year-old winger has gone from the relative obscurity of Hereford United to the bright lights of Cardiff City and a surprise cameo on the international stage.

And although he completed both transitions with seamless ease, he admits there was a time not too long ago when he thought his future may forever lie in the long grass of football's lower reaches.

"If I didn't make it this year I don't think I would have made it at all so when people gave me those chances I felt had to take them," he said.

And take them he did; mission accomplished. But this is no time for him to sit back on those inviting laurels.
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MARTYN Margetson's chances of achieving his Welsh international dream took a giant leap forward today as Mark Crossley suffered a back injury.

Mark Hughes looks set to call an extra 'keeper into the squad for the double header against Norway and Canada, but Crossley's withdrawal means that only Danny Coyne and Margetson remain of the original goal-stopping staff.

First choice Paul Jones is away on honeymoon while Darren Ward is absent with a long term back injury.

It means Hughes, who has an unofficial policy of using two 'keepers in friendly matches, is likely to cap the Cardiff City star in one of the two games.
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CELTIC and Charlton Athletic continue to be seen as likely summer destinations, but Robert Earnshaw insists there is only one place he plans to be on July 1 - Ninian Park.

Despite the feverish speculation linking him with a big-money move to the Premiership, the Cardiff City striker stressed yesterday he hoped he hadn't played his last game for the Bluebirds.

And, as he linked up with the Wales squad for this week's friendlies against Norway and Canada, he said he was looking forward to reporting for pre-season training with Cardiff as normal.

Earnshaw, of course, has been linked with a possible £4m move to Charlton, though the fact manager Alan Curbishley has emerged as a contender to replace sacked Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier might scupper a switch to south London.
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