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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