Hennessey: We're all buzzing about being on duty with Wales

31 August 2015 02:16

Gareth Bale's rapid return home on the weekend sums up the mood of excitement in the Wales camp, says goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Bale put a picture on his official Twitter account within an hour or so of Real Madrid's 5-0 Primera Division thrashing of Real Betis, in which the Wales star striker twice in his new number 10 role at the Bernabeu.

Standing by a private jet, Bale tweeted: 'Now on to Wales!!' - and Hennessey admits the Real star's message was a huge boost as Chris Coleman's side stand on the brink of qualifying for the European Championship in France next summer.

"Balo is absolutely buzzing, but whenever we all meet together there's a buzz around us," Hennessey said.

"We want to do well and our country proud.

"But Balo's games come quick and fast, so to get on a flight that quick and get over here explains it all."

Wales visit Cyprus on Thursday night and host Israel in Cardiff three days later knowing that two victories will end the country's 58-year wait to grace a major tournament.

Bale has been in superb form in qualifying, scoring five of Wales' seven goals, and the Dragons top Group B with 14 points from six games after beating Belgium, the world's second ranked team, in June.

But Hennessey, who will win his 50th cap at Nicosia's GSP Stadium , has warned that the job is far from done and insists Wales are not looking beyond Cypriot opponents who have upset them in the past.

"We don't want to think about it (qualifying) yet," Hennessey said.

"We want to get over the line and it's going to be two difficult games.

"But hopefully we can do the business out in Cyprus and set it up for the home game and beat Israel."

Hennessey has had only 90 minutes of action for Crystal Palace this season, in the Capital One Cup victory over Shrewsbury last week, as summer signing Alex McCarthy has been preferred to the 6ft 6in Welshman.

But the 28-year-old insists he is ready to be his country's last line of defence again in what is expected to be a hostile atmosphere in Nicosia.

"I've been keeping myself right in training and trying to play under-21 games and cup games as much as I can," Hennessey said.

"I relish games with Wales but I would anyway because I'm playing for my country and I want to give best I can.

"Others are playing and I'm not, so I have to do well here - I'm grateful for the manager (Coleman) for picking me ahead of goalkeepers who are playing every week.

"To get to 50 caps, especially with the (knee) injury I had, is a fantastic honour and a great achievement.

"It's a huge week to get there because there's a lot of press with Wales at the moment, we've never really had it before but we're thriving on it.

"A lot of players bounce off it and so they should, the talent is and most of them are playing in the Premier League week in week out.

"I don't think Belgium thought we were that good when we played them at home."

Source: PA