After one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer, Danny Ward finally made his Huddersfield Town debut in the pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen on Tuesday.

The on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper was given extra time off after featuring for Wales at Euro 2016 with the youngster also making his competitive international debut in the 2-1 win over Slovakia at the start of the tournament.

A product of the Wrexham AFC Academy, he signed for the Dragons as a 14-year-old in 2007, leaving the Racecourse for Merseyside in January 2012 without making a solitary senior competitive appearance for his hometown club.

Danny Ward in action for Wrexham AFC against Bury during a pre-season friendly back in 2010.
Danny Ward in action for Wrexham AFC against Bury during a pre-season friendly back in 2010.

Highly-rated at Anfield, the 22-year-old was loaned to Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen for the start of the 2015/16 season, keeping an impressive 13 clean sheets in all competitions for the Dons.

Ward's loan was cut short in January, with the youngster going on to make his league debut for the Reds against Bournemouth in April before signing a season-long loan with the Terriers at the start of this month.

Here the Examiner speaks to Cledwyn Ashford from the Welsh Schools FA and Joey Jones from Wrexham AFC to get an insight into the North Walian's younger days.

Cledwyn Ashford, Former Chairman of the Welsh Schools FA

Flintshire Schools Under 11s team photo with Danny Ward absent - his portrait is in the far left corner.
Flintshire Schools Under 11s team photo with Danny Ward absent - his portrait is in the far left corner.

He's a lovely lad with a great future in front of him and someone I still keep in touch with – he's very supportive of Wrexham Academy as well and always remembers his roots.

He still calls me Mr Ashford, there is still that sort of pupil-teacher relationship which you don't expect from players once they have grown up and moved on.

I think the main reason is he is so loyal to the Wrexham AFC Academy is because of the likes of Joey Jones and Andy Davis - he will always tell you how grateful he is of them both and it's lovely there is still that bond and relationship between the club and player.

Joey Jones, Wrexham AFC Youth Coach

Danny Ward makes a save for Wrexham AFC against Bury during a pre-season friendly back in July 2010.
Danny Ward makes a save for Wrexham AFC against Bury during a pre-season friendly back in July 2010.

Danny has a big personality – bags of enthusiasm and could never do enough in training. If you said that it was the end of the session he would always want to do more – have an extra shot taken against him or something.

In that respect he reminded me an awful lot of Neville Southall - both great trainers and there are definitely similarities between the pair.

At the time Danny was probably one of the better players with the ball at his feet than some of the outfield players.

I know it's an old saying but you've got to be a bit barmy to be a goalkeeper and Danny was a real character when he was with us.