Gareth Bale will headline Wales’ first FIFA World Cup squad in 64 years, while Rob Page has also gambled on the fitness of Joe Allen.
The 32-year-old midfielder has been out of action since mid-September, but the Dragons coach called his inclusion a “special case”.
Ethan Ampadu, Ben Davies, Neco Williams, Aaron Ramsey, Daniel James and Brennan Johnson are among the other big names selected, as is Wayne Hennessey, whose play-off heroics inspired Wales’ qualification.
Centre-back Tom Lockyer, out of the international picture for over a year, was handed a recall, but Oli Cooper and Rabbi Matondo were left out in the cold.
“Has he played as many minutes as we’d like? Probably not,” Page said of Bale, who recently returned from injury to help Los Angeles FC win MLS Cup.
“But that doesn’t worry me. He’s proved time and time again when he puts the Welsh jersey on, irrespective of how many minutes he’s played at domestic level, he’s always produced. “On big occasions he’ll always turn up, thrive, and enjoy it. He’s already with the [Wales] staff, over in the country and raring to go. Gareth has proven in the past that without minutes he can deliver in important stages.”
Wales’ Qatar 2022 squad
Goalkeepers Adam Davies (Sheffield United) Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest) Danny Ward (Leicester City)
Defenders Ethan Ampadu (Spezia) Ben Cabango (Swansea City) Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon) Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) Connor Roberts (Burnley) Joe Rodon (Rennes) Chris Mepham (Bournemouth) Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders Joe Allen (Swansea City) Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) Dylan Levitt (Dundee Utd) Joe Morrell (Portsmouth) Aaron Ramsey (Nice) Matthew Smith (MK Dons) Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield) Jonny Williams (Swindon Town) Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Attackers Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC) Mark Harris (Cardiff City) Daniel James (Fulham) Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth)
Discussion about this post