As Wales prepare for their crucial second leg against Slovakia at Cardiff City Stadium, Rhian Wilkinson has announced Jess Fishlock will start the game.
The centurion came on for the final half hour away in Poprad and helped change the tide for Wales, who scored an 89th minute goal to record a 2-1 loss.
Fishlock previously hadn’t played for a month and a half due to an undisclosed leg injury, but the Seattle Reign star is ready to do all she can for her country.
“Injuries are part of football, but Seattle and Wales have been working really hard behind the scenes, and I have been working hard on the grass too to make sure I’m ready.
“I am, as of now, fully fit. I hadn’t played for a long time, but this is a two-game window. I’m ready as ever, as always, to do what I can for this country, as I have done for the last 20 years almost.”
Another name in contention to play some minutes on Tuesday night is Hannah Cain.
The Leicester forward is back after recovering from a second ACL injury, and if Wales need some dynamism up front, Cain could be on sooner rather than later.
“Hannah has worked really hard to come back from a devastating injury,” Rhian Wilkinson said.
“She got on for 35 minutes for Leicester and played very well. Both Jess and Angharad speak so eloquently about what it means to play for Wales.
“Seeing players like Hannah who are so clearly dedicated to their clubs but are also chomping at the bit to get back to the national team. She is ready to go, and if she needs to, she will be seen on the field.”
Slovakia 2-1 Wales player ratings: Two 4s and one 8 as Wales falter in Poprad
Home truths
Wales will need all their talents fit and firing tomorrow night, as they look to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Captain Angharad James said after the game that Wales didn’t play with the pride and passion they have come to expect from themselves in Poprad but says the team have been open and honest with each other in the aftermath of that defeat.
“When I look back at the game, it just wasn’t us. That’s a performance we haven’t put in for a very long time. Why we did that, I don’t know. But we have the answers for it, and I can tell you this group has worked so hard since that last game.
“It’s important to be honest and truthful to yourself and look within first before you look elsewhere. Everyone took responsibility for their own performances, and collectively as a group we took responsibility for the performance and the result.
“The result has given us the kick we needed for this game. We’ve had hard conversations, and we’re ready to put things right.”
Now, there are no more hiding places for a Wales side looking to reach their first ever major tournament, and Wilkinson says her team won’t shy away from the challenge.
“I don’t think we shy away from realities. Everyone knows that, all-round, it wasn’t the level we expect from ourselves.
“It wasn’t good enough and on the balance of things, Slovakia fully deserved their win. There’s no room for error now, that’s the position we’ve put ourselves in.
“However, the work we’ve put in over the last few days and getting back onto the pitch, it’s about showing up for this team. They’re an incredible group of players, and backs against the wall, we’ve got to deliver tomorrow.”
A cunning plan
While there is a confidence in this Wales team, confidence will also be flowing in this Slovakian side, who picked up a famous win on Friday.
The team celebrated in fine fashion as a result, right in front of Wales. Fishlock is happy to have seen those celebrations and says it will spur them on in Cardiff.
“They celebrated in a way that showed they were proud of their performance, and they’re allowed to enjoy winning international games.
“It was probably their best result in a long time, and I’m really glad they celebrated in the way they did. It sucked to see it, it was horrible to watch, but that’s the game.
“For us, it’s important that we remember that and that we know what it feels like to stand there and watch someone else celebrate something very meaningful.
“We’re going to go into this game and think a little less about everything else and think about who we are and what we need to do to get the result that we want.”
Wales were caught out by a high pressing Slovakian side, who could have scored four or five goals in the first half.
Asked whether Wales had a plan to stop them pressing this time around, captain James gave a simple five-word answer.
“We have a great plan.”
We will see if that plan works tomorrow night, as Wales play their second leg against Slovakia at Cardiff City Stadium. Kick-off is at 19:15.
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