Wales manager Rob Page revealed Blues forward Nathan Broadhead was in tears after scoring his last-gasp debut goal to claim a 1-1 draw in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier in Split.

Broadhead, 24, turned home the leveller in the third minute of injury time - the first Wales goal scored by a Town player - having come on as a sub in the 64th minute along with Blues teammate Wes Burns.

”I'm really pleased for him,” Page said. “He's not going to like me saying this but, it's an emotional game, he was in tears at the end of the game with the supporters. It means the world to him.

“I've worked with Nathan in the U21s in Toulon six or seven years ago. I know Broady, I've watched his development and he's earned the right to be part of the squad now.

“I've known all about Broady before this camp and we've been itching to get him involved.”

He added: "It feels like a win. When you get the equaliser like we did late on in the game it feels like a win. I think the lads deserved it for the effort they put in, they put a right shift in.

“We knew we were going to have to suffer without the ball and it came true. They're a very good team and we had to be disciplined in our shape. I knew that, as the game went on, we'd create chances.

“We thought DJ's [Daniel James] chance might be the one but Nathan Broadhead popped up at the end and got his chance and took it well.”

Photo: Reuters

hyperbrit added 02:44 - Mar 26 Burns and Broadhead will become one of the most dangerous partnership in football imo
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Paulc added 09:29 - Mar 26 It just goes to show if you give the right player the right chance in the right set up what can be done. Nathan wasn't really on anyone's radar before he joined Town. Everton weren't giving him chances and he hardly set the world alight with numerous loan moves. Credit has to go to the Town setup for backing him and to the lad himself for his attitude and taking his chance. Can play a major part in Town's promotion and who knows where that will lead!

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ArnieM added 09:49 - Mar 26 Maybe now that tossa of a Welsh manage will actually start to take notice of our players (Burns & Broadhead) and ignore the fact that they are currently in league one - they're NOT “ league one” players and if he'd bothered to do his research properly he might realise that fact! Not that I want our players being called up and taken away from our domestic league. But for their sake and personal / professional development I do.

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BangaloreBlues added 10:00 - Mar 26 @ ArnieM Why are you abusing the Welsh manager? Didn't you read what he said - he's been watching his development for seven years and waiting to get him involved. Broadhead is only 24 years old. He isn't a Bale or a Kane. He has needed time to develop.
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Bert added 10:09 - Mar 26 When the substitutions were made, the so called on line BBC pundits were negative about bringing on young subs. They obviously no nothing about the talent in the lower leagues and more so at ITFC. Like others I celebrated the goal as if it was one of our own at Portman Road. Two Town players in an international side against classy opposition reminded me of the 80's when in one England game we had 5 Ipswich players on the field at one point. Proud as punch !

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oldbri added 10:23 - Mar 26 Fantastic for Wales and Broady. Congratulations.
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Bazza8564 added 10:34 - Mar 26 Selfishly relieved to see that they both only got 30 minutes too, dont want them burned out for Derby assuming they will play the same in midweek too. But for the Boys themselves, totally made up for them
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terryf added 11:41 - Mar 26 Well done our boys and what a moment for Broady! I think we'd all be emotional scoring an important goal so late on. I think Arnie's reference to the Welsh Manager was more to do with his treatment of Burns. He was our player of the year, scoring goals and creating goals from an advanced position on the RIGHT and Page introduces him to International football on the LEFT which kind of asks the question had he been watching him or who the hell was advising him?

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