Wales World Cup squad in full as Joe Allen and Rubin Colwill included
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Joe Allen and Rubin Colwill have both been included in Wales’ 26-man World Cup squad.
Central midfielder Allen has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury during Swansea City’s 3-0 win over Hull City on September 17 while Colwill returned to action during Cardiff City’s 3-2 loss to Hull City on Tuesday night following more than a month on the sidelines.
But both men will be on the plane to Qatar next week as Wales grace the grandest stage of international football for the first time since 1958.
LIVE UPDATES: Wales World Cup squad announcement live as Rob Page names the 26 players he will take to Qatar
Key stars such as Gareth Bale – fresh from his MLS Cup triumph with Los Angeles – and Aaron Ramsey are in the squad while Tom Lockyer returns to the international fold for the first time in more than a year as cover for Sheffield United’s Rhys Norrington-Davies who will miss the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Euro 2016 stars Chris Gunter, Jonny Williams, Ben Davies and Wayne Hennessey will once again provide experience to the youngsters in the camp, with Ben Cabango and Mark Harris also earning themselves a place in Page’s squad.
Elsewhere, the likes of Kieffer Moore, Daniel James, Brennan Johnson, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts and Joe Morrell – who have all been prominent figures in recent years – will represent their country in the Middle East.
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On Allen, Page – who announced his squad at Tylorstown Welfare Hall – said: “We’re giving him every opportunity to be fit. There was no way I was never going to name him in the 26.
“He’s on the grass. He’s progressing as we want him to and we’ll give him every opportunity to be fit for the first game. I phoned him a couple of days ago to tell him he was in the 26 just to take that pressure off him. If he’s fit, he’s playing.
“He’s a senior lad, he’s got vast amounts of experience playing tournament football as well so he knows the game inside-out and that’s invaluable. That’s why I’m throwing everything at it. It’s similar to Joe Ledley probably in 2016, when Cookie [Chris Coleman] had that scenario with an experienced lad that he wanted to go in, because he needed him as a key figure in that team. For me it’s no different with Joe.”
Captain Bale has already returned to Wales having completed his domestic campaign with LA. And Page has revealed the 33-year-old is undergoing fitness work with the Football Association of Wales’ medical team ahead of the squad’s flight to Doha next Tuesday.
“He scored an important goal for LA,” Page said on Bale. “He showed athleticism to get the header. Has he played as many minutes as we’d like? Probably not. 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. No questions about him today. He’s already with the staff, over in the country and raring to go.
“He’ll have an effect on the game straight away and when opposing managers see his name on the team sheet they’ll know. It’s the power that people like Gareth have because they always deliver.”
Leeds United forward Tyler Roberts – currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers – misses out through injury while Rangers’ Rabbi Matondo, Swansea’s Ollie Cooper and Ipswich Town’s Wes Burns are among those who did not make the cut.
Wales kick-start the tournament against the United States of America on Monday, November 21 before facing Iran four days later. Page’s men round off the group stage against England on Tuesday, November 29.
Get your brilliant 48-page Wales at the World Cup preview special Wales’ 26-man World Cup squad in full
Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies.
Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts, Sorba Thomas.
Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey.
Harry Wilson, Rubin Colwill, Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James.
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