FORMER Wales star John Hartson believes Gwent striker Christian Doidge has got what it takes to make it at international level.

Newport-born Doidge has been pushing his case for a Wales call-up after excelling since his summer move to Scotland and national manager Ryan Giggs has said that the 27-year-old is on his radar.

The uncapped striker, who was raised in Cwmbran, scored 18 goals for Hibernian before the Scottish Premiership was suspended last week due to the coronavirus crisis.

And Hartson, who enjoyed the most successful spell of his career at Celtic, says Doidge should ignore criticism of the quality of football in Scotland.

"I scored 110 goals for Celtic and it didn't stop me scoring goals in the Premier League or for Wales,” he said.

“All Doidge has to do is stop listening to the noises that he is scoring in a poor league and carry on scoring.

“He's a good player, a targetman type, and could be a back-up option for Kieffer Moore.

"Ryan likes to play with a target man. He played on the left with myself for Wales and [Craig] Bellamy on the right, and we had great success doing that.

"He's a centre-forward who can get hold of it, be a link man, and get players around him.

"Moore has done that exceptionally well, not at a big club in Wigan, and all Doidge can do is impress when he gets the chance to play for Hibernian.”

South Wales Argus:

Hartson has also welcomed Hal Robson-Kanu's decision to end his international exile and make himself available again for Wales.

Robson-Kanu called time on his 44-cap Wales career in August 2018, saying he wanted to focus on his club football at West Bromwich Albion and dedicate more time to his family.

But the Euro 2016 hero has reversed that decision and told Giggs that he is available for the next camp, whenever that may be following the coronavirus outbreak.

"Hal's put himself forward again and I think that's great," said Hartson.

"He deserves credit for that, he wants to help and be a part of it.

"He's been scoring goals and pivotal to what Slaven Bilic has been doing at West Brom.

"He was getting a run of games after a few injury problems, and I think it's wonderful for Ryan to have options.

"My only issue is that he's got the likes of Daniel James, Harry Wilson and Tom Lawrence in forward positions, as well as Gareth Bale of course and David Brooks to come back from injury,” added Hartson.

"Ryan's been trying to nurture and bring through some of the younger ones to become future Welsh stars.

"He might feel that bringing Hal back in might hold their progress.

"But Hal's a quality player and you can't have enough good players."

Both Doidge and Robson-Kanu may have to wait some time to pull on a Wales shirt, however.

Giggs was due to name his squad for upcoming friendlies against Austria and the USA tomorrow but both matches were cancelled last week.

And now that Euro 2020 has been postponed until the summer of 2021, Wales' warm-up friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on June 6 must also be in doubt.

Former Wales striker John Hartson was launching the 2020 McDonald's Grassroots Football Awards, ran in partnership with the four home UK Football Associations. To nominate a grassroots football club or volunteer go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards.