'Rubin Colwill is the biggest talent Wales have produced in a long time but faces make-or-break 12 months'
The Bluebirds playmaker is really starting to show what he's all about and looks set for a run of games for his club and country
"He is the biggest and most brightest talent that Wales have had for a long, long time."
That is how highly Matty Jones, Wales's under-21s boss, thinks of Rubin Colwill. So, too, do many of his ardent backers and fans of Cardiff City, who have for so long wondered why his trajectory has not skyrocketed in recent years.
It's a good question and one which we never really seem to get the answer to. His wonderful ability and moments on the ball have perhaps too rarely translated into goals or assists, granted, but he has played in a struggling team for most of his senior career, too.
READ MORE: Joe Allen comes out of international retirement as Craig Bellamy's Wales squad announced
The 22-year-old has never really had a prolonged run in the first team at Cardiff and it is no coincidence that successive managers have never really trusted him enough to lead this Bluebirds attacking line, which has failed time and again under a number of regimes over the last half a decade.
For some Cardiff fans it is maddening. But they are not privy to the underlying stats or the day-to-day on the training ground. If anything that makes it more infuriating, because it leaves them perplexed as to why he is not the main man or star of the show, week in, week out.
This week he has once again been omitted from Craig Bellamy's first-team squad with Wales, but is still eligible for Jones's under-21s squad as they bid to qualify for the Euros – and Colwill will have a huge role to play for the youth team and will doubtless have a big say in whether Wales qualify.
But his chances for the under-21s are coming to an end and when they do, his career will hit a major juncture. As Jones puts it, the next year could make or break his international career.
"For Rubin, he is still faced with that dilemma of being on the periphery of the (first-team) squad," Jones said. "He has healthy competition in front of him in the senior squad, but at the moment he's lucky to be eligible to play for the under-21s, at least then he can fall back and still have international exposure.
"But we do know it's going to be a tough, tough 12 months for him moving forward and one that could make or break his international career.
"We are going to give him full backing, full support. He excites me every time I watch him play, because he can make something happen in the game. I was there on Tuesday night, seeing those moments of brilliance. I think it's the whole package we are looking to support Rubin with and making sure he is heavily motivated to do the other side of the game."
The game to which Jones alludes was Cardiff's 1-0 win over Millwall, during which Colwill was praised lavishly for sparking the hosts' attack into life on a number of occasions. Forcing a smart double save from the Lions keeper and going close with a cute free-kick from 20 yards were just some of the moments which got fans off their seats. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
So why hasn't his trajectory risen at the pace of a, say, Brennan Johnson? There's no doubting his ability, but 11 goals and six assists in 117 appearances is still a relatively modest return. Jones offers perhaps the most articulate explanation we've heard yet and it made for fascinating listening.
"It's about understanding the player and really maximising his performance," Jones added. "I genuinely feel when Rubin plays for the under-21s I can motivate him. I'm that type of manager. I think Rubin is a player who needs that – he needs pushing, he needs driving, he needs heavy motivating in training and in games.
"The message to Rubin has always been, when you play in front of 30,000 people and you haven't got your coach or manager on the side, that's got to come from inside. That is an area where Rubin has improved. That self-motivation and self-drive to defend, cover distance, react instinctively when to press. Those are the areas that will complete the package of Rubin Colwill.
"On Tuesday we saw unbelievable moments of brilliance, really individual talent that no other player showed. He had the freedom to explore and make things happen from deeper areas on the pitch. I love giving him that freedom, but there also has to be discipline and a defensive instinct and habit that you adhere to. And that is about behaviour and mentality.
"We are fully supporting Rubin and his club have done some terrific work in terms of progressing and improving those areas.
"But there will come a time where Rubin falls out of the age bracket and won't be able to play for the under-21s. So, going forward, he needs to make his stamp on things and really impress the manager, Craig Bellamy, and the new manager who comes in to Cardiff. Because it can be an exciting time for him and I really hope his trajectory goes forward and he doesn't plateau or get tired of doing the same thing. I hope he gets inspired by taking this information on board and really pushes forward with his career.
"Because like many who have spoken before, Pagey [Rob Page] was the same, he is the biggest and most brightest talent that Wales have had for a long, long time. It's up to him to maximise that talent and fulfil that potential we all speak about."
It's perhaps telling that Bellamy himself hasn't included the Bluebirds academy product in either of his first two Wales squads, although he was called up last time, due to late injuries, without playing a game.
Bellamy constantly speaks about the collective and when he speaks about Johnson, for example, he always points to his selflessness, rather than his goal contributions, which you sense is key to all of this, really.
It culminated in some frank conversations between the coaching staff and Colwill during the September camp.
"Yeah there was [honest conversations]. And Craig has been able to handle that because of his relationship with him from a young age. It's unique when you see that relationship with them," Jones continued.
"Craig has come through the door and promoted a lot of the areas and habits, like energy, it probably goes against someone like Rubin and other players. But it's those areas I want to improve in his game. We need energy, we need enthusiasm. Someone like Lewis Koumas has been rewarded and I probably won't see him in the under-21s again. That's the trajectory Craig is looking from, from a player. Someone with lots of energy, be really explosive with their movements.
"Rubin's make-up is different, we have spoken about his growth and his legs at times, so there is a fine balance between adding aggression and enthusiasm to his game, but not taking away the brilliance that he shows as well."
WHATSAPP: Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
The constant change which has swirled around Colwill's career has also been destabilising, no doubt. The next manager to be appointed at Cardiff will be his sixth – he is still only 22. That can't be good for any young player trying to make his way in the game and is an overarching indicator of a player who is playing in a struggling team, too.
One of the primary jobs of whoever comes in next at Cardiff City Stadium will be helping Colwill get to that next level, because he has the ability to transform Cardiff from a struggling team into a real contender, with the right help around him.
"It's having the right personnel around Rubin to get the best from him — and that's just him that's every player — understanding what makes every player tick is a skill in itself with managers, who have to find a way to get the most out of their most gifted players," Jones added.
"Some see Rubin as a maverick. Well, you've got to treat mavericks differently in terms of maximising their performances. He really excites me. We engage in a lot of conversations, Rubin and I, and he knows that I've got his back and I'll get the best from him. He has given it his all for the under-21s. He's been a match-winner and has really influenced games.
"You can also coach a maverick on those traits that are also needed, like defensive play. Often mavericks don't want to defend because they are so influential offensively on the pitch. But it's about striking a balance and making sure the team doesn't suffer.
"I've had those conversations with Rubin. I had them on Tuesday prior to the game. I'll have them tomorrow and on day one of camp. Because I know I care and I want to get the best out of Rubin so he can go and play for our international senior team and go and fill the boots of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale."
Wales under-21s squad in full
Evan WATTS (Swansea City), Lewys BENJAMIN (Wolves), Fin STEVENS (St. Pauli), Alex WILLIAMS (Stratford Town – on loan from West Brom), Matt BAKER (Newport County), Luca HOOLE (Shrewsbury Town), Ed TURNS (Brighton & Hove Albion), Zac ASHWORTH (Blackpool), Tom DAVIES (Cardiff City), Eli KING (Stevenage – on loan from Cardiff City), Oli HAMMOND (Oldham Athletic), Joel COTTERILL (Swindon Town – on loan from Swansea City), Charlie SAVAGE (Reading), Owen HAMPSON (Sheffield United), Charlie CREW (Leeds United), Joel COLWILL (Cheltenham Town – on loan from Cardiff City), Rubin COLWILL (Cardiff City), Cian ASHFORD (Cardiff City), Cameron CONGREVE (Bromley – on loan from Swansea City), Josh THOMAS (Bromley – on loan from Swansea City), Chris POPOV (Barrow – on loan from Leicester City), Josh FARRELL (CF Villanovense).