Gemma Grainger names 26 player squad for Canada and Denmark friendlies

Wales have named a 26-player squad as Gemma Grainger prepares to take charge of her first games as manager next month against Canada and Denmark.

Grainger was appointed two weeks ago, which meant she relied on the coaching staff from the February camp to select the players for these upcoming matches.

Wales have named a full-strength squad which includes Jess Fishlock, Tash Harding, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James are all named in the camp.

The squad, which was selected two days into Grainger’s appointment, includes two new faces.

Liverpool’s Ceri Holland has recived her first full call-up after she was a late addition to the February training camp.

Since joining Liverpool in January, the forward has impressed, scoring in her first two games and being named FA Championship Player of the Month for March.

Another newcomer in the squad is Reading defender Bethan Roberts who last represented Wales at U16 level.

Roberts last represented Wales at U16 level and has recently made her Reading debut as a substitute against Bristol City in December.

“They are two exciting young players,” Grainger said. “They will be great editions into the squad,” said Grainger.

“With Ceri, the existing staff spoke highly about her coming into that camp and her involvement in the Championship.

“Bethan is another young player that the previous staff have spoken to me about extensively about her potential, so it’s really nice to bring them in at this stage.”

One of the people Grainger has relied upon is Loren Dykes who has vast experience as a player in the squad and was involved in last month’s training camp as a coach.

“Loren is going to be for us in the April camp, and moving forward having her involved as a coach I see her as a really key part of the team.”

One player to miss out on a call-up is Cardiff City Ladies forward Nadia Lawrence.

The 31-year-old has been capped 36 times but hasn’t played a competitive game since December after Cardiff’s season was cancelled because of COVID 19.

Another uncapped player named in the Cymru squad is Esther Morgan, the right-back has become a staple part of Tottenham’s backline in recent weeks, including a start in the North London derby.

In her first two weeks in charge of Wales, Grainger has been able to have conversations with the majority of the squad over the internet.

“I’ve got some conversation this afternoon and tomorrow with some of the players and once they’ve concluded I will have spoken to every player in the 26.

“It’s been really nice to speak over Zoom. It was so important for me to connect with them, I’ve had half an hour with each player to find out a little bit about them and answer any questions they before the camp on Sunday.” 

Grainger has spoken highly about the passion that the players have to represent their country,

“This group of players’ desire and passion to represent their country is one of the most exciting things about them as a group because it’s such an amazing foundation to work from.

“As a coaching team, the level of motivation and commitment that these players have is just phenomenal and the most exciting thing, so I’m really looking forward to meeting up with them on Sunday.

Grainger’s first game in charge will be against Canada at Leckwith Stadium on April 9, Wales then play Denmark on April 13 at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The upcoming friendlies will give Wales a chance to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualification campaign which starts in September.

Wales will discover who is in their group when the draw is made on April 30.

Wales squad to face Canada and Denmark:

Laura O’SULLIVAN (Cardiff City Ladies), Olivia CLARK (Coventry United), Poppy SOPER (Plymouth Argyle), Rhiannon ROBERTS (Liverpool), Gemma EVANS (Bristol City), Maria FRANCIS-JONES (Cardiff City Ladies), Charlie ESTCOURT (London Bees), Hayley LADD (Manchester United), Josie GREEN (Tottenham Hotspur), Elise HUGHES (Blackburn Rovers- On loan from Everton), Anna FILBEY (Celtic- On loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Sophie INGLE (Chelsea), Angharad JAMES (Reading), Jess FISHLOCK (Reading- On loan from OL Reign), Carrie JONES (Manchester United), Kayleigh GREEN (Brighton & Hove Albion), Natasha HARDING (Reading), Rachel ROWE (Reading), Helen WARD (Watford), Lily WOODHAM (Reading), Georgia WALTERS (Blackburn Rovers), Ffion MORGAN (Crystal Palace), Esther MORGAN (Tottenham Hotspur), Ceri HOLLAND (Liverpool), Bethan ROBERTS (Reading), Kylie NOLAN (Cardiff City Ladies).

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)