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David Cotterill has revealed how “rock star” Joe Allen had to explain who the Manic Street Preachers were to some of the youngsters in Chris Coleman’s Wales squad.

Welsh rock icons, The Manics, joined up with the national team to record the side’s official Euro 2016 song , titled Together Stronger (C’Mon Wales), which is out next month.

And Cotterill admits it was a moment that just underlined the excitement being felt by those among the tight-knit group ahead of the nation’s first major finals in more than half a century.

Yet while Cotterill, 28 and one of the longest-serving members of the side, knew exactly who James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore were when he and the rest of the squad walked in to join the guitar-based trio – whose classic album Everything Must Go is 20-years-old this year – he revealed it took shocked music fan Allen to spell it out to some of the younger members.

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“It was a bit surreal but it's all part of the excitement building to the summer,” explained Cotterill, who will return to hometown Cardiff this weekend as part of a Birmingham side set for the final Championship clash of the season.

“When I first walked in I thought 'what's going on here' but they were great and it was a good laugh.

“We have a lot of young lads and a few didn't know who they were or hadn't heard of them so you had Joe Allen going around with his phone trying to show them; used to room with Joe and he's always fancied himself as a bit of a rock star and now he's got the hair and beard to go with it. He couldn't believe it.

“But everyone joined in and it was a good part of the last camp. There's been times over the years when the side have struggled that it's been tough to enjoy being away with Wales but with the group we have now and the last campaign every single one of us can't wait to meet up, whether it's for friendlies or big games. Everything about it is great, the squad and the staff and the togetherness. We all look forward to it and we're all obviously looking forward to the summer.”

Related: Everything you need to know about the Manics' official Wales Euro 2016 song Together Stronger

Cotterill impressed in the last home friendly before Euro 2016 against Northern Ireland as he looks to book his place on the plane for France, backing up his versatile and reliable showings with Wales with an impressive run of form for a Birmingham side whose play-off push fell short in the final month of the season.

“No-one really talked about the final squad in the last two games and the management didn't mention it,” said Cotterill of the wait to find out who Coleman will call upon for France. “You obviously know certain lads are definitely going to be there, but none of us are taking anything for granted. Everyone tried as hard as they could in the last two games but I think the manager just wanted to give everyone an opportunity.

“But I'm happy with my form and it's just a shame we couldn't keep up the push with Birmingham and take it until the end. I've been in promotion-winning dressing rooms and it felt like we had the same kind of spirit so we would have liked to have made the play-offs. When you come to this stage of the season it hurts when you’re not involved in a promotion challenge.”

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