Motherwell youngster earns first call up as 26-man Wales squad announced for World Cup Qualifiers
Wales during the national anthem. Wales v Armenia in a UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium on the 16th June 2023. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Motherwell youngster Kai Andrews has received his first senior call up for Wales and will be in the squad for the nations opening World Cup Qualifier fixtures against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia.
Since making the loan move from parent club Coventry City Andrews has made three appearances in the Scottish Premiership, starting once and coming off the bench twice. He has also featured in the Scottish Cup.
Prior to his loan move, Andrews was part of Coventry City’s U21 squad, where he made one appearance in the Professional Development League during the 2023/2024 season. Andrews has featured for Wales at under-19 level making 12 appearances and scoring twice.
Cardiff City captain Aaron Ramsey was set to be involved in the upcoming camp but misses out after picking up a hamstring injury during his clubs 2-1 home defeat to Luton Town on Tuesday night.
He will be replaced by Rangers midfielder Tom Lawerence. This is the first time Bellamy has included Lawerence in a squad selection and will be his first involvement with the national team since 2021 where he was part of the preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournement.
Ollie Cooper returns to the squad after missing out in November due to injury, but Harry Wilson,
Ethan Ampadu, Wes Burns and Rhys Norrington-Davies are unavailable as they recover from their
respective injuries.
Bellamy will be aiming to continue his unbeaten record as Wales boss having steered the national team to promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League with a 4-1 home win against Iceland last time out.
They will open their World Cup Qualifying campaign in front of The Red Wall as they take on Kazakhstan at The Cardiff City Stadium on the 22nd of March before travelling to Skopje three days later.
For the qualifying campaign, Cymru have been drawn in Group J alongside Belgium, North
Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein. The group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the
four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up and four teams
from last year’s Nations League phase.
Wales last results against qualifier opponents
Belgium: On November 16, 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier, Wales lost 2-0 to Belgium in Brussels after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
Kazakhstan: Wales last played Kazakhstan on September 10, 2019, during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, securing a 1-0 victory in Cardiff thanks to a goal from Gareth Bale.
Liechtenstein: The teams met on October 14, 2009, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier, with Wales winning 2-0 in Vaduz with goals from Aaron Ramsey and David Edwards.
North Macedonia: Their most recent match was a friendly on August 12, 2009, ending in a 1-0 defeat for Wales in Skopje with Goran Pandev getting the decisive goal.
Full Wales squad announcment
Danny WARD (Leicester City), Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United),
Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Chris MEPHAM (Sunderland- on loan
from Bournemouth), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Connor ROBERTS (Burnley), Neco WILLIAMS
(Nottingham Forest), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Tom LAWERENCE (Rangers), Joe ALLEN (Swansea
City), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Stade Rennais), Ollie COOPER (Swansea
City), Kai ANDREWS (Motherwell- on loan from Coventry City), Sorba THOMAS (Nantes- on loan from
Huddersfield Town), David BROOKS (Bournemouth), Kieffer MOORE (Sheffield United), Brennan
JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel JAMES (Leeds United), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Nathan
BROADHEAD (Ipswich Town), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Lewis KOUMAS (Stoke City- on loan
from Liverpool), Rabbi MATONDO (Hannover 96- on loan from Rangers).
