'Loving every minute' Leeds United star about to see 'dream' realised

Joe Rodon will win his 50th Wales cap on Tuesday after being battered, bruised and cut during the Nations League draw with Turkey - and he says it' an absolute dream to do so.

Rodon produced a player-of-the-match performance to shut out the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists in a bruising 0-0 stalemate in Kayseri last week and is now readying himself to go again when Wales take on Iceland Tuesday evening.

That means he will reach the half-century of caps, just over five years after making his debut against Azerbaijan in a Euro 2020 qualifier. "Time flies when you're having fun," said Rodon, 27. "I just want to keep playing games and enjoying my football as I'm loving every minute of it.

"I'll cross that bridge (50th cap) when it comes but it's a dream and an honour to play for my country. All the boys in that dressing room dream of playing for the whole nation."

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Rodon was a key player for Wales, even when he struggled to get game-time at former club Tottenham or on loan at Rennes in France. Asked if Wales had kept him going during low points of his career, he said: "That's absolutely right. To come away with a group of lads like this and the staff, everyone there, is unbelievable. That's what really kept me going in those tough moments."

Wales - who survived after Neco Williams was adjudged to have felled Yunus Akgun despite appearing to have got a touch on the ball - will book at least a Nations League play-off place in March by avoiding defeat against Iceland in Cardiff.

Victory would secure top spot and promotion to League A should Turkey lose in Montenegro. But Wales would be plunged into a relegation play-off against a League C runner-up should they lose to Iceland.

Rodon said: "Everyone put in a massive shift against Turkey and I'm very proud of the boys. We know Iceland will offer a different challenge and a very difficult game. We'll prepare like we always do and put on a performance for the whole nation."