Friday, November 22, 2024

Aaron Ramsey misses out but Lewis Koumas in for Wales friendlies

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Wales will be without captain Aaron Ramsey for the friendlies away to Gibraltar on Thursday, 6 June and the trip to Slovakia three days later.

The midfielder, 33, played just 13 times for Cardiff City in an injury-hit 2023-24, while he featured only twice during Wales’ European Championship qualifying campaign.

Veteran goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is also absent from the 25-man squad.

With Ramsey, who has scored 21 goals in 84 Wales caps, left to concentrate on regaining his fitness, manager Rob Page has selected five uncapped players – including Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas.

The 18-year-old is set to follow his midfielder father Jason as a full Wales international, while there is also a call for another teenager in the shape of 17-year-old Leeds United midfielder Charlie Crew.

Coventry City’s Jay Dasilva and fellow defender Fin Stevens, who has impressed on loan with Oxford United from Brentford, plus Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Tom King are the other uncapped players.

The selection of King, Danny Ward and Adam Davies as the keepers means there is no place for Hennessey.

The 37-year-old, capped 109 times, has been a regular for Wales since making his debut in 2007 and been part of three major tournament final squads, but did not feature for Nottingham Forest this past season.

There is also no place for Oxford forward Mark Harris, despite his 19 goals helping them clinch promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

Leeds winger Dan James is included despite suffering a head injury in their Championship play-off defeat by Southampton at the weekend.

Likewise, Tottenham defender Ben Davies is named despite missing the tail-end of the season with a calf injury.

Midfielder David Brooks was also injured in the Championship play-off final, but he has not been included.

Harry Wilson, Neco Williams, Morgan Fox and Dylan Levitt do not feature.

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