HARRY WILSON reckons leaving Liverpool catapulted him to a whole new level as the Wales star eyes a Euro 2024 spot.
Fulham’s £12million attacker quit Anfield in July 2021 after almost 16 years with the Reds to his dream of being a Premier League regular.
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Wilson, who went on five loans as Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino stood in his way at Liverpool, is now a key man for club and country.
He has replaced Wales talisman Gareth Bale as well as making 35 appearances for Marco Silva’s 12th placed side.
The Dragons ace had a hand in the opening three goals in last Thursday’s 4-1 semi-final win over Finland to set up Tuesday’s play-off final showdown with Poland.
And Wilson hopes his red-hot form can deliver a place in Germany this summer.
Wilson, who turned 27 on Friday, said: “I feel I have moved to the next level.
“The move to Fulham two-and-a-half years ago now was a big one for me.
“I’d been on a lot of loans from Liverpool. Although my dream as a young lad was to make it into Liverpool’s first team and play regularly, I knew that wasn’t going to be the case.
“When I was 18, 19 and 20, I was trying to get into the team but they had, arguably, the best front three in the world.
“So all the loans I went on really helped me to grow as a player and learn the game.
“It got to a stage in my life where I wanted to get settled from a personal side of things as well.
“When the Fulham move came up, I spoke to Marco Silva on the phone and I just felt it was the right move.
“We managed to achieve our first goal which was to get promoted to the Premier League.
“We have had one good season there and now this one is going well too although there are a few games left.
“I feel it’s been the perfect move for me and my game has gone to a new level.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world so to be playing regular football in a good team in that league means I can only get better.”
Wales had to adjust quickly following the retirement of record appearance holder and goalscorer Bale – who won 111 caps and scored 41 times for his country – after the 2022 World Cup.
But Wilson reckons Welsh team-mates Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore, Dan James, David Brooks and Nathan Broadhead as well as himself have all stepped up to fill the massive hole left.
Wilson added: “I don’t think anyone was going to replace Gaz.
“We knew when he left we had to step up as a team because he was leaving such a hole in that team.
Everyone knows how dangerous Lewandowski is. His hunger to score is the biggest thing.
Harry Wilson
“He was our captain, our leader, our best player. To lose his goals and his influence on the team, there was going to be a big gap there.
“It’s not just me but a lot of players are playing really well. It’s up to us now to make sure we chip in with goals and assists.”
Poland and Barcelona hotshot Robert Lewandowski, 35, stand in the way of Wales reaching a fourth major tournament in their last five attempts and a third successive Euros.
Wilson said: “Everyone knows how dangerous Lewandowski is.
“His hunger to score goals is the biggest thing. Everywhere he’s been in his career, he’s scored both for club and country. He’s their biggest threat.
“He might not be getting any younger but we know if we give him a chance, he’s going to score. We need to make sure we stop him.
“We have to be solid at the back , don’t give him space and stop giving him any chances.
“If we do that we’re confident with the quality in our dressing room that when we’ve got the ball, we can really hurt them.”
