Wayne Hennessey will captain Wales on Tuesday for the visit of the Czech Republic in a friendly for his 100th cap.
But the Burnley shot-stopper, 35, who has won his place back due to Danny Ward’s knee injury, is not expecting a present from team-mates to celebrate the occasion. The Bangor-born star from North Wales is thrilled to be joining their exclusive 100 club alongside Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter.
Captain and record scorer Bale achieved the feat in November against Belarus when Hennessey admits the squad tried to buy his best mate a memento to mark the occasion. He says Wales’ players planned to get two-handicapper Bale something for his golf game, which he is passionate about. But Hennessey admits Bale, who is out of contract at Real Madrid this summer and has played for them just five times this term, already has all more gear than you could dream of.
Hennessey, who made his international debut in 2007, said: “I haven’t asked for anything. I don’t need anything. These guys are so special it is nice to be around them. I am not sure we got him (Bale) anything either. We asked him about the golf situation but he has got absolutely everything. He only goes for a special brand , which is Taylor Made. We said: ‘We will get you this and get you that’.
"He said: ‘I don’t need it, I have already got it, I have got this coming’. We were like: ‘Do you want anything from us’ and he didn’t want anything really. “It was no problem. He means the world to us and we love him to bits.”
Hennessey returned to the side to help Wales beat Austria 2-1 last week in their semi-final play-off for the World Cup. Wales are now just one game away from Qatar 2022 this winter and are waiting to play the winners of the other semi-final between Ukraine and Scotland.
Hennessey wants to put on a good show to continue to stake a claim for the jersey at the World Cup if Wales get there after staring at Euro 2016 in the nation’s famous run to the semi-finals. He added: “Euro 2016 was special, it makes the hair stick up on the back of your neck. I want to keep showing I am in a good place and feeling really well.”
Hennessey has made 183 Premier League appearances and kept 37 clean sheets. Tuesday’s game is a charity match to raise funds for Ukraine war victims and continue preparations for June when Wales aim to reach their first World Cup in over 60 years. Hennessey said: “Czech Republic is a good test for us and leads on to the game against either Scotland or Ukraine.”
