Wales C and England C meet at Llanelli Town’s Stebonheath Park for the Anthony Hughes Trophy.
It’s the fifth edition of the fixture since its reformation in March 2018. The very best of the Cymru Premier takes on their counterparts from the National League. Wales have won victory to England’s two whilst there was a 2-2 draw at Salford City back in 2019.
Ahead of the match, there have been a few changes to both sides. Mark ‘Jonah’ Jones has a job on his hands to name a team that is capable of upsetting the Three Lions. Here we predict how the Dragons might line up in West Wales on Tuesday night.
Goalkeeper
Connor Roberts was initially meant to be in the squad but he withdrew and was replaced by George Ratcliffe. The Pontypridd United goalkeeper was unlucky not to make the squad the first time and now there is a real battle for the starting spot between him and Bala Town’s Kelland Absalom.
Ratcliffe is a 10-time under-21 international and shades it in terms of statistics. He has 11 clean sheets this season in 26 matches but has conceded eight goals more than Absalom.
Absalom for Bala this season has nine clean sheets, conceding 24 goals in 27 games. At Altrincham we saw Alex Ramsay and Connor Roberts play, so depending on how the game pans out, they could both feature.
Going on the fact that Absalom was called up in the original squad, you’d imagine he will get the nod over Ratcliffe.
Defenders
Danny Davies was the second player to withdraw from the squad and was replaced by Ryan Harrington.
For the past two games, Jonah has gone with three centre-backs and two wing-backs and given the players he’s called up, that won’t change.
Emlyn Lewis has been his captain and so he’ll start in the middle. Ryan Sears started last year and has been playing as a right wing-back for Newtown but is capable of playing at centre-back. He’ll likely fill in for where Danny Davies was playing.
Connah’s Quay man Harrington should start as a left-sided centre-back.
Midfield
Wales will need to pack the midfield if they are to have any success against England. It’s why Jonah should go for three players who will get right in the faces of the opposition.
A midfield trio of Noah Edwards, Clayton Green and Danny Gosset would put the frighteners on any team. Green is Pontypridd United’s captain and he has actually been suspended for Ponty so he will be fresh.
Gosset has been at the heart of Caernarfon’s surprising performances this season, even donning the captain’s armband on a number of occasions.
As for Noah Edwards, he’s not missed many games for Connah’s Quay this season. He’s not afraid to put a tackle in but also has five goal contributions this term.
Mael Davies and Sion Bradley should start as the two wing-backs who will also track back.
Bradley has seven goals and seven assists in the Cymru Premier this season. He’s yet to play for Wales C, and so he should get the nod.
As for Davies, he’ll be hoping to recapture the buzz surrounding him to when he played in Caernarfon. The 25-year-old was watched by a handful of EFL clubs that night. He has six assists this season.
Attack
To finish off the attack, you have to start with the Welsh player who has the most goals this term. The former Futsal international has found the back of the net 18 times this term and has also got five goals.
This international is used as a platform for scouts to look at players in the flesh and make a judgement. Davies doesn’t need to worry however as he has already agreed to a pre-contract move to Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton.
Pontypridd United’s Ben Ahmun could start alongside him. The 32-year-old may only have four league goals this term but the big man smaller-man partnership might just work. Llanelli Town’s Ethan Cann will be pushing hard for a start however and could surprise many.
Wales C predicted XI to face England (3-5-2): Kelland Absalom; Ryan Sears, Emlyn Lewis, Ryan Harrington; Mael Davies, Noah Edwards, Clayton Green, Danny Gosset, Sion Bradley; Ben Ahmun and Jordan Davies.
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