Will Vaulks Column: Rotherham United midfielder has a wedding to plan in the international break

Will VaulksWill Vaulks
Will Vaulks

I'M doing something I've never done before during this international break. I'm off to see some wedding venues.

I got engaged two international breaks ago. We've got a couple of days off after going five games unbeaten so I'll be able to check out a few places.

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I'm not sure if it will be a chore or good. We'll see how stressful it is!

The engagement was my doing. I took my girlfriend, Alex, to Rome and did it. We went to a nice restaurant in Rome and I got down on one knee and surprised her.

She was completely shocked, which was the way I wanted it to be. It went really well. We've been together for about five years.

She was there during the tough times. We got together when I was on about £80 a week so she's definitely not after me for my money!

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We've known each other since we were about 11. She's from the Wirrall, the same as me.

I moved up to Scotland on my own to join Falkirk and we kind of got together in the summer break when I came back home. Not long after that, she moved up.

June 2020 should be the big date. It's a little while away, I know, but you have to get everything booked in advance.

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I'M really fed up that I missed the Blackburn Rovers match through suspension.

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It ended a long run for me because I think I'd started every league match since December 2 last year at Bristol Rovers. I came on a substitute that day when Darren Potter had to go off in the first half.

My injury record, touch wood, is very good over the whole of my career. I've missed a week's training in five years, I think. That's pretty good.

There is no secret formula. Just getting out training every day helps. I try to never miss things. You could say 'Oh, I'm a bit tight today, I'll give it a miss' but I always try to train.

I think I'm naturally fairly flexible, which helps. I'm not particularly quick so muscle injuries aren't a massive problem. It's usually your explosive players who get muscle injuries.

I think living right helps as well and I do live right.

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YOUNG midfielder Ben Wiles is becoming a regular in the first-team squad and he's got a big future ahead of him.

Wilesy is a brilliant player. Without being disrespectful to anyone, by a long way he's the best young player I've seen come through in my two-plus years here.

He looks like he's got a real chance. He can play at a very high level, I feel. He's got everything. He just needs to bide his time.

The manager is obviously showing faith in him by putting him on the bench every week. Once Wilesy learns the game a little bit more and develops his positional sense, especially playing for a team like Rotherham, he'll be fine.

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If he played for a team that had more possession he'd be even better because he's good on the ball and he's quick. With Rotherham, you have to keep your shape a little bit more.

He came on in the 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough and did well. It's great for him to be getting this opportunity.

He's confident enough. I think he knows he's a good player. He's by no means arrogant, but he's willing to try things in training against senior pros. He'll hit balls with his left foot and his right foot and give things a go.

I think that's part of the reason why he's stepped up. You have to be willing to make mistakes and stick your neck on the line, especially as a young lad. That's how you get somewhere. If you just coast along, you don't get noticed.

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IT was great to beat Swansea City 2-1 earlier this month, but I didn't think we were very good. It wasn't our best day.

We didn't start very well but we hung on. That's the most important thing to take away from that performance. You've always got a chance at 1-0.

Getting two penalties in seven minutes is a bit of a freak occurence. I absolutely shanked my shot which led to the second one.

Joe Newell rolled a free-kick to me just outside the area and I really fancied myself for it — perfect range and everything. The less said about my connection the better!

This is an updated version of Will Vaulks' column that appeared in last week's Advertiser