Nice star Aaron Ramsey to lead Cymru in to new era
Aaron Ramsey of Wales in action. Wales v Belgium in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 16th November 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Cymru manager Rob Page has named his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia.
Page has chosen four uncapped players for the first camp of the qualifying campaign. They are Jordan James, Nathan Broadhead, Luke Harris, and Ollie Cooper.
After a number of players retired after the World Cup, Page explained that he knew he needed to change aspects of the squad, and is looking forward to the new qualifying campaign with a new group of players.
“We’ve got to acknowledge what the lads who have retired have done for us over the last few years. They deserve all the credit that they’re going to get. But life goes on.
“We have to reset and reframe after the World Cup. We’ve bought new additions to the backroom staff, great additions in my opinion, and they’re going to add a lot of value. I knew as soon as the World Cup had finished that evolution was going to happen.
“In the last few years, I’ve inherited squads, teams, principles, but now this is a fresh start. The boys have been incredible to qualify for a World Cup, and I believe it’s two steps forwards, one step back.
“We’ve still improved and still learned from playing at the World Cup. We no longer hope to qualify for tournaments, we now believe we can, so that mindset has changed, and we’re going to build on that.
“In the main we’ve got the same team that got the success, but by introducing young and hungry players who are biting at the heels of those senior players, is only going to lead to a great environment, and that’s the culture we want to create.”
The new squad also has a new captain in Aaron Ramsey. Rambo was the youngest ever Wales captain under Gary Speed’s tenure as manager and returns to the role for the upcoming qualifiers.
While there may be doubts with some supporters over his injury history, Page said it was a simple choice to make the Nice midfielder his new captain.
“Aaron was vice-captain behind Gareth and to me it’s the natural progression. While we’ve still got someone of his quality in the squad it was the natural decision. Aaron took it hard after the World Cup like we all did. But there was no doubt whatsoever about his future and wanting to play for Wales.”
Amongst the new players called into the squad is Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw. Bradshaw, who started his career at Aberystwyth Town, has scored 13 goals in the Championship this season, and Page has been keeping a close eye on the forward, whose last appearance in a Welsh shirt came against Mexico in 2018.
“He’s playing good football, he’s scored two hat-tricks against two top Championship teams in Watford and Sheffield United, and to do that is a great achievement. He’s scoring goals at a good level, and he deserves his call-up again. I’ve worked with him in the past, he’s a great character, and while you’re scoring goals in the Championship, I’m going to take note.”
In terms of players missing out, some of the Red Wall will question the decision not to include Bristol Rovers’ Aaron Collins and Sheffield Wednesday’s Will Vaulks.
Collins has 15 goals to his name in League One, while Vaulks has been a vital cog in the Owls’ resurgence this season, but Page has said he wants to focus on the younger players coming through.
“I haven’t spoken to both players. We’re in a transition period at the minute, and I want to bring in the younger players. Will has been great for us over the years whenever we’ve needed him, and he’s doing well at club level at this moment in time, but I have a lot of trust in the squad that I’ve selected.
“I haven’t gone for a big squad, we’ve cut the numbers down a little bit, but with the young players in the squad, they’re the ones I feel that are out there at the moment who are ready to step up. I’m in close contact with Matty Jones, and when he feels the next batch of young players are coming through and ready to step up, we’ll be in contact with them as well.”
CYMRU SQUAD TO FACE CROATIA AND LATVIA
Wayne HENNESSEY (Nottingham Forest), Danny WARD (Leicester City), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United)
Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Tom LOCKYER (Luton Town), Joe RODON (Rennes), Chris MEPHAM (Bournemouth), Ethan AMPADU (Spezia), Connor ROBERTS (Burnley), Sorba THOMAS (Blackburn Rovers)
Jordan JAMES (Birmingham City), Wes BURNS (Ipswich Town), Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Joe MORRELL (Portsmouth), Harry WILSON (Fulham), Ollie COOPER (Swansea City)
Dan JAMES (Fulham), Kieffer MOORE (Bournemouth), Luke HARRIS (Fulham), Brennan JOHNSON (Nottingham Forest), Tom BRADSHAW (Millwall), Nathan BROADHEAD (Ipswich Town)
