Dave Edwards is prepared for what will come his way in Georgia on Friday if the Reading midfielder turns out to be the man asked to take the place of the most famous footballer in Wales. “Friends always take the mick out of me when it says ‘Edwards has come in to replace Bale’,” the 31-year-old says, laughing. “What a let-down when you see that come across Sky Sports News.”

Self-deprecating and down to earth, Edwards is a loyal servant to Wales. He talks about being “happy to step in and give my absolute all” if Chris Coleman names him in his starting XI for the World Cup qualifier in Tbilisi, yet also explains why he will have no qualms if the manager decides to look elsewhere, including in the direction of the 17-year-old Ben Woodburn.

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“If you talk to any manager I’ve ever played for, I’ll always put the team ahead of myself,” Edwards says. “I’d want to have Joe Allen in that midfield every day of the week. I think he’s one of the best midfielders in Europe, I really do. I watch him train and he’s something else. The way he can carry a team in the way he’s done in previous games for Wales has shown he’s become as integral to us as Gareth is.”

Allen is certain to start in Tbilisi but the big question is whether Coleman feels bold enough to turn to Woodburn, Liverpool’s prodigiously talented teenager, now that Bale has been ruled out of the Georgia game and the Republic of Ireland’s visit on Monday with a calf injury. Woodburn was outstanding in last month’s qualifiers, when he came off the bench to score the winner against Austria on his debut and then set up the opening goal against Moldova three days later, yet he has played only 45 minutes for Liverpool since and has never started a game for his country.

Not that Edwards would have any reservations about Woodburn going straight into the team. “I’ve no doubt he would deliver a performance – he seems that kind of lad,” Edwards says. “He reminds me a bit of Gareth when he was younger; he seems to relish the big opportunity, and that’s when you see the best of them. A lot of players see the big stage and think that’s where a lot of things can go wrong for you, go into their shell and play safe. Gareth’s never like that. You saw in the Euros, the biggest stage, he would just go and perform on another level. And I’m pretty sure Woodburn’s of the same mould.

“Skill level is key [with Woodburn], but also his trust and faith in that skill level, knowing he can handle the ball in tight areas – you saw a few times in the Moldova game he was being played the ball with a lot of bodies around him. But even though he’s quite small, he’s got a very strong physique, he can hold off players so he’s happy receiving the ball anywhere on the pitch and getting on the turn. And once he opens up he’s electric.

“He’s been a gamechanger in the last two matches and it will be interesting now – I wouldn’t like to be the manager thinking whether to keep it the same and him coming on to make an impact with the possibility of changing the game if you need to, or you just say go out and start. Either way we’re lucky to have him.”

Woodburn has taken little time to settle into a tight-knit Wales squad likened to “a family” by Edwards, who made his debut 10 years ago next month and has 41 caps. That so many of the current crop came through at the same time has helped to foster the team spirit that grew even stronger during the 2016 European Championship, when Wales reached the semi-finals. But Coleman’s approach is also a factor.

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“The gaffer has always said that when we play, we prepare properly. But then at the back end of a trip if we’ve got a result, then we can let our hair down,” Edwards says. “We’re all adults and we’re trusted to have a couple of drinks. It’s quite nice to mix with the fans and media and I think that’s another unique thing about us. Fans, press, us – everyone seems to be enjoying the journey. I think if other nations were seen in a hotel bar enjoying a drink after the game it would be in the news for the wrong reasons.”

Edwards hopes to be celebrating in Cardiff come Monday night, with second spot and a play-off place the most likely route to Russia for a team desperate to appear at another major tournament and a player who is always thinking of the bigger picture. “Whoever misses out, I want the team to function at its best and that’s obviously with the best players playing,” Edwards says. “I’d happily sacrifice not getting two caps in the next couple of games if we can qualify for the World Cup.”