Two months ago Paul Parry was getting ready to face Forest Green Rovers. Eight weeks later he's battling with Ryan Giggs for a place in the Wales side.

Newport-born Paul Parry admits that he still has to pinch himself when he looks back on his meteoric rise from non-league football over the past two months.

After just a handful of games for Cardiff City, the former Hereford midfielder who was raised in Chepstow now finds himself rubbing shoulder with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Simon Davies and Gary Speed.

"It was totally unexpected and a complete shock," said Parry. I still have to keep pinching myself to believe this is all actually happening. I got a message from someone at Cardiff City telling me that I'd been called into the squad and I thought it was a wind-up.

"But I made some inquiries and here I am. The last time I was at the Millennium Stadium I was with my mates at the Russia game watching Giggs and Speed.

"And to think that they could be watching me play with them is just unbelievable. I've just wanted to try and secure a regular place in the Cardiff side so to get full international cap is something I just can't imagine."

Parry has six Wales semi-pro caps to his name and knows that he will have to work very hard to replace a certain Mr Giggs who currently occupies Parry's preferred left-wing position.

"Giggs has been a hero of mine because he plays in the same position as me so to train with him is something I just couldn't imagine a few months ago. It's a big step up from playing for Hereford but I know that everyone at the club supports me and Cardiff City have also been great to me."

Gwent duo James Collins who is from Newport and plays for Cardiff City and Carl Fletcher who has family from Ebbw Vale and plays for AFC Bournemouth have been called into the squad.