Edmund informed of his Davis Cup fate but Yorkshire star plays down his inexperience

The team spearheaded by Andy Murray face Belgium for the biggest prize in team tennis, with captain Leon Smith set to announce the country’s second singles representative at a press conference this lunchtime.

Edmund, the 20-year-old from Tickton, near Beverley, faces a straight shootout with the more experienced James Ward for the right to play two crucial singles’ rubbers in support of world No 2 Murray.

It is understood that Smith informed his players of his choice at a team meeting last night.

Edmund is thought to be the front-runner having recently won a Challenger Tour title on clay – the same surface to be used at the Flanders Expo this weekend.

Should he earn selection for the four-man team, Edmund will become only the sixth player to make his Davis Cup debut in a final. None of the previous five, including Pete Sampras, won their opening rubber.

Likely opponents for Edmund – who was born in Johannesburg but raised in East Yorkshire – are Belgian No 1 David Goffin tomorrow and Steve Darcis on Sunday in what could be the decisive final rubber.

Edmund’s inexperience of such pressure-cooker environments is something Britain’s opponents are already playing on with former Belgian pro Filip Dewulf saying: “I could understand if James Ward was picked. He’s got more experience.

“Edmund, being a young guy, and this being the biggest moment in British tennis history almost – that’s a pretty big burden to carry.”

Edmund responded to that, and other insinuations about his lack of a track record, by saying: “In sport you want to play, especially for your country. You want to do your best.

“Whoever plays is going to give their best. They’re going to prepare the same way they’ve done every other time.

“It doesn’t change. It’s a tennis match you’ll prepare for.

“You just deal with it when it comes to it.”

Edmund reached the second round of the French Open – on clay – in May, while Ward’s best grand slam effort came on grass at Wimbledon a month later when he won two matches.

Ward won a title in Buenos Aires two weeks ago to remain in contention to play against Belgium, while Edmund – more of a clay-court specialist than Ward – stayed on to play a tournament in Montevideo.

He only arrived back in Britain on Saturday but is confident it will not adversely affect him.

“Throughout the year we’re having to deal with jetlag and travel,” said Edmund, who was a junior grand slam semi-finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open.

“We find ways in ourselves to deal with that.

“It’s no different this time. I know what I need to do to get my body in the best shape if I’m going to play.

“I feel fine. It’s obviously helped me physically to go to South America and play on the clay.”

Jamie Murray is likely to play in the doubles alongside his brother, with Dominic Inglot also in the frame.