Rhian Wilkinson has named her first Wales squad for the upcoming European qualifiers against Croatia and Kosovo.
There are four new faces in the senior squad. Wolves’ Ania Denham has been selected, along with Soffia Kelly, Elena Cole, and Mared Griffiths from the FAW Academy. Manchester United’s Mayzee Davies, who was picked in the squad for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland, is also selected.
Carrie Jones and Safia Middleton-Patel have not been selected due to injury.
The selection of three academy players will certainly raise a few eyebrows amongst fans, but Wilkinson explained why she made her decision.
“We don’t have an U23 team, but I’ve been working closely over the least few weeks with a lot of our youth coaches.
“Nia Davies was out with the U17s, the U19 tournament is coming up, and it’s an opportunity to make sure our best young talent is getting seen and getting training opportunities with our senior group. Not because they’re always ready, but because they need to know the standard.
“We want to make sure we’ve got players that are feeling that they are getting opportunities and that they can see a pathway ahead of them. That’s a big important piece for me.”
There is now a good mix of youth and experience in the Welsh squad, and that’s the way Wilkinson wants it to be.
The Canadian wants these new players to have the courage to make their mark and is eager for them to get in and amongst the squad.
“First of all, with these young players, I tell them how excited I am to have them there. I follow a lot of the young ones in their club career, and I reach out to them to make sure that they know they’re being seen.
“This senior group of players will not qualify for the Euros without this youth movement. We need our young players to show up, to feel like this Welsh senior team is as much theirs as it is to the senior players, even though they may have only been there six months or two weeks.
“We need them to step on the field with confidence in order to deliver. My message to them is, ask the questions you need to ask, show up, be brave, and I’ll have their back, as I do any player in camp.”
What can Wales fans expect from Rhian Wilkinson?
Fishlock Milestone
Jess Fishlock can reach 150 caps this camp if she plays in both of these games, a milestone that hasn’t been achieved by any Welsh player, male or female.
In Wales, Fishlock holds a status that not many other Welsh people hold. She is an icon and revered for her work on and off the pitch. However, we only get to see her for international games, and perhaps we don’t see as often what’s she’s like during a season.
Wilkinson has worked in the States before and says while Fishlock’s status isn’t what it is in Wales, she is still highly regarded across the pond.
“I don’t think you can replicate the status that she has here in Wales. She’s iconic, she’s one of the faces of Welsh football. When you arrive at the stadium here you see her face, and this what I hope all our young girls in Wales want to become.
“In the States, she’s definitely well-respected and recognised as one of the best players to ever play in the NWSL. I would say, with the retirement of Megan Rapinoe, she’ll become the face of the team even more, because she is such an integral piece of that Seattle team.”
The instant mention of the great Megan Rapinoe begs questions and also comparisons between herself and Fishlock.
The former Canadian international believes there are similarities between the two stars, and both are leaders in their own right.
“There are women in this game right now who offer leadership in so many different ways. I played with Christine Sinclair who is very quiet off the field and leads in a different way.
“Then you’ve got players like Pinoe and Jess who are very comfortable speaking their minds and standing up for issues that they believe need support and better exposure.
“In that way, it’s been nice to see her and Pinoe lean on each other that way, because you do put yourself in challenging situations by being that voice. Jess has never shied away from that and she’s a very special player.”
As Fishlock accumulates all these caps, the dark cloud of retirement begins to loom.
It’s certainly something no one wants to think about, but the new manager has said she would never retire any player.
“Never in my life will I ever retire a player. It is a very personal decision. My job is to make sure that players that are the readiest, and that are delivering, are on the field.
“Sometimes it can feel like a retirement if you’re not picking a player or not making the starting eleven, but my job will never be to retire players. Playing for the national team is a huge part of their lives and they give so much to it.
“Jess looks after herself in a way that allows her to perform day in and day out, playing 90 minutes for her club and then travel across the world to play for her country. It’s phenomenal. Her career can go on for how ever long she wants it to.”
First qualifiers
Time has gone very quickly since Wilkinson’s appointment, and now she will prepare her team for the first two European qualifiers.
Wales will take on Croatia in Wrexham on Friday April 5th, before flying to Podujevo to face Kosovo on Tuesday April 9th.
While she will only have two full training sessions with her team, Wilkinson is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“It’s an exciting time for us to be playing these teams. We’ve only got two full days on the training pitch to get our content in, then they have to go and deliver on the field.
“It’s not something to be scared of as such, it’s what every player wants to do; represent your country in meaningful games.
“These are games where we know we need to deliver a strong performance and we also need to continue to build as we get to know each other.”
WALES SQUAD TO FACE CROATIA AND KOSOVO
Olivia Clark (Bristol City), Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Soffia Kelly (FAW Girls Academy South)
Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Charlie Estcourt (Reading), Josie Green (Leicester City), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Gemma Evans (Manchester United), Mayzee Davies (Manchester United), Lily Woodham (Seattle Reign), Ella Powell (Bristol City)
Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Alice Griffiths (Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Elena Cole (FAW Girls Academy South), Lois Joel (London City Lionesses), Rachel Rowe (Rangers), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign)
Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Ellen Jones (Sunderland), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Mared Griffiths (FAW Girls Academy North), Ania Denham (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
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