World Cup 2022: Wales name injury doubt Joe Allen in 26-man squad
Robert Page names his 26-man squad for Wales’ first World Cup in 64 years, with midfielder Joe Allen included despite being…
Robert Page has named his 26-man squad for Wales’ first World Cup in 64 years, with midfielder Joe Allen included despite being a major injury doubt.
Gareth Bale captains a squad that has no surprising inclusions or omissions.
Rhys Norrington-Davies is out with a hamstring injury so Tom Lockyer is recalled more than a year since he last played for Wales, while a calf injury rules out forward Tyler Roberts.
Wales face the United States in their opening World Cup match on 21 November.
They are joined in Group B by Iran and England, who name their squad on Thursday.
Wales squad
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City).
Defenders: Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Rennes, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, on loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town).
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Matthew Smith (Milton Keynes Dons), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town).
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Dan James (Fulham, on loan from Leeds United), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest).
Page had previously indicated he had already decided on the majority of the 26 players he would be taking to Qatar, and that was evident at Wednesday’s announcement in his hometown of Tylorstown in the Rhondda valley as he stuck to a tried and trusted squad.
His biggest injury concern is influential midfielder Allen, who is named in the squad despite not playing for Swansea City since injuring his hamstring in September.
Swans head coach Russell Martin has confirmed Allen will not play for the Championship side before the World Cup, but Wales still hope the 32-year-old will be able to play some part in Qatar, even if he is not fit enough to start against the United States.
“It’s not ideal if I’m honest but we’re giving him every opportunity to get him fit to get into the starting XI for the first game,” said Page.
“There’s a couple of other players in a similar boat but Joe’s been so important to me overall the last couple of years, how I want to play and how he sits in front of the back four.
“He’s one of those from 2016 [European Championship] when they had the success and when he was playing really well, Wales were winning games.
“Again he’s earned the right to be there. I spoke to him two days ago and he’s in a positive frame of mind and looking forward to it.”
There is better news regarding captain Bale, who has at least been playing for his club side, Los Angeles FC.
However, the 33-year-old said he was “not 100%” fit after scoring a crucial late goal in LAFC’s MLS Cup final triumph over Philadelphia Union last weekend.
The former Real Madrid player has made just two starts – plus 11 substitute appearances – for LAFC since joining the American club in June.
Bale has been integral to Wales’ recent success – they have qualified for three of the past four major tournaments having reached only one before that – and will be their talisman once more at the World Cup.
“Ideally would we want him to play more minutes? Of course,” said Page.
“Am I worried? No, because he’s shown time and time again that irrespective of how many minutes he’s played at club level he always comes in and has important moments in the game, whether it’s a free-kick against Austria or Ukraine [in the World Cup play-off semi-final and final].
“Big players step up for big occasions . We’ve said it with Aaron [Ramsey] in the past – Hungary at home when he got two goals for us – and it’s no different with Gareth.
“Opposing managers will look at the team sheet and if they see his name they know at any moment he can win a game for you.”
Along with Bale and Allen, goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey and Danny Ward, defenders Ben Davies and Chris Gunter and midfielders Ramsey and Jonny Williams are the players who will be representing Wales in a third major tournament, having played at the past two European Championships.
Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson, Cardiff City attacker Mark Harris and Huddersfield Town winger Sorba Thomas will be going to their first major tournament.
“The worst part of this job is disappointing the ones that are not in the 26,” said Page.
“The others I’ve not phoned to tell them they’re in, I’d rather them see it when [it is announced].
“That’s going to be nice for them to see but on the other side of it there’s always going to be someone who’s disappointed.
“I’ve had a couple of uncomfortable conversations – some through injury, some through choice.
“We’ve got to move forward now and pick the squad that will go and compete and go and win us games.”
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