Ryan Giggs is to name his Wales squad next week and there is somewhat of a selection dilemma in store for him to assess.
First-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Adam Davies, who replaced Hennessey in Wales’ victory over Bulgaria, has also picked up an injury.
It leaves Wales with just one of the usual three goalkeepers to choose from in Danny Ward.
Ward’s problem, however, is that he hasn’t played much senior football in the past year, having been restricted to cup competitions with Leicester.
The 27-year-old would be likely to replace Davies and Hennessey in their absence, but it still leaves Wales needing two other goalkeepers.
A left-field call-up could be perhaps Bala Town’s Alex Ramsay.
It may seem unrealistic but for a Welsh domestic player to be considered for the national team would give the league some much needed exposure.
Ireland, one of Wales’ opponents in the Nations League, have called up a number of players from the League of Ireland, during Stephen Kenny’s tenure.
Ramsay is the best Welsh goalkeeper in the league and has conceded just eight goals this season.
Now competing in the Welsh domestic league and playing against full-fledged internationals is a complete kettle of fish.
But the former Caernarfon goalkeeper showed his own in Bala’s Europa League fixtures with Standard Liege and Valletta.
He’s a commanding goalkeeper and despite not being a young-and-upcoming goalkeeper, the experience of working with the Welsh national team would be beneficial.
The 27-year-old represented Wales C against England C in Salford last year, playing in front of Ryan Giggs at Salford’s Peninsula Stadium.
Though not directly, the Welsh domestic game has been a route for some players to the national team and seeing Ramsay following in the footsteps would show that there is a meaning to the domestic game in Wales.
Ben Cabango, once on loan at The New Saints, is now a full Wales international.
Rhys Norrington-Davies, who put in an assured performance against Bulgaria, was from Aberystwyth Town’s impressive academy.
Should Ramsay not be considered, which would be understandable, then there are other options.
Tom King of Newport County, has been in previous Wales squads, but he has since been displaced by Nick Townsend in the Exiles goal.
Another viable option is Chris Maxwell, who is playing for Blackpool in League One.
David Cornell is another shout. He’s not the first-choice keeper of Ipswich Town at the moment but he was pivotal in Northampton Town’s promotion to League One.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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