Wednesday 13 March 2013

Allen included for Wales despite shoulder complaint

Chris Coleman has announced his latest Wales international squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers amongst huge debate.

Former England star Chris Waddle proclaimed that Gareth Bale would follow in the footsteps of former flying winger Ryan Giggs in never appearing in a World Cup, while former Wales battler Robbie Savage played down the upcoming Scotland encounter as not being that important, saying: “Let’s make no bones about it, the qualifying campaign was over ages ago.”

Coleman will be hoping his charges can prove both men wrong against Scotland at Hampden Park on March 22 and Croatia in Swansea on March 26.

Wales are still without long-time No1 Wayne Hennessey as he continues to battle injury, while Adam Matthews misses out after picking up a hamstring injury during Celtic’s Champions League defeat against Juventus in Turin.

Robert Earnshaw has been overlooked despite his recent transfer to Toronto FC in a bid to play more games, but Liverpool’s Joe Allen is included despite club manager Brendan Rodgers recently revealing he requires surgery on a shoulder complaint.

Youngsters Ben Davies and Ashley Richards (both Swansea, although Richards is on loan at Crystal Palace) and Joel Lynch (Huddersfield) are given another chance to impress Coleman, while Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams could make his Wales bow after being promoted from the under-21s.

Steve Morrison (Norwich), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) and James Collins (West Ham United) are also welcomed back from injury having missed the Austria friendly win last month.

Craig Bellamy continues his return to the fold, and if plays in either game it will be his first competitive appearance for Wales since the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland in November 2011.

All eyes, of course, will be on Spurs winger Bale as he looks to continue his incredible run of form that seen him score 11 times in his last 10 games.

Geraint Williams has also named his Under-21 squad for the forthcoming qualifier for the Uefa 2015 finals in Finland. That is against Moldova at Llanelli’s Parc y Scarlets on the same day as the Scotland match.

Bristol City’s Wes Burns is included again after his goalscoring debut against Iceland last month, while Wrexham have two representatives in the squad, Robert Ogleby and loan star Daniel Alfei, as they prepare for a possible league and Cup double.

Wales squad to face Scotland and Croatia:
Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Price (Crystal Palace), Owain Fôn Williams (Tranmere Rovers), Ben Davies (Swansea City), James Collins (West Ham United), Chris Gunter (Reading), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town), Ashley Richards (Swansea City, on loan at Crystal Palace), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Joe Allen (Liverpool), Jack Collison (West Ham United), Andy King (Leicester City), Joe Ledley (Celtic), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), David Vaughan (Sunderland), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City), Simon Church (Reading), Steve Morison (Leeds United), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Sam Vokes (Burnley).

Wales Under-21s squad to face Moldova:
Connor Roberts (Cheltenham Town), Danny Ward (Liverpool), Daniel Alfei (Swansea City, on loan at Wrexham), Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kieron Freeman (Derby County), Jonathan Meades – (AFC Bournemouth, on loan at AFC Wimbledon), Scott Tancock (Swansea City), Joe Walsh (Crawley Town), Billy Bodin (Torquay United), Elliott Hewitt (Ipswich Town), Emyr Huws (Manchester City), Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton), Tom Lawrence (Manchester United), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Wes Burns (Bristol City), Jake Cassidy (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Chris Dawson (Leeds United), Robert Ogleby (Wrexham).

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