Wales Squad Unveiled: Darlow Returns, Cooper & Harris Earn Call-Ups
Craig Bellamy has named his first squad as Wales manager, with the return of Karl Darlow and the call-ups of Ollie Cooper and Mark Harris being the standout inclusions.
Darlow, who last featured for Wales in 2021, returns to the fold following a move to Championship side Hull City after a spell with Newcastle United. The experienced goalkeeper will be vying for a starting place alongside Danny Ward and Adam Davies.
Cooper, a midfielder for Swansea City, and Harris, a striker who has impressed for Oxford United in the Championship, have both earned their first call-ups to the senior squad in over a year. Their inclusion reflects Bellamy's commitment to selecting players who are performing well at club level.
Sorba Thomas also makes a comeback, having started the new season positively with Nantes after a loan move from Huddersfield Town. The winger, who has been capped 12 times for Wales, will be hoping to replicate his form from the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
The squad features a number of familiar faces, including the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Aaron Ramsey, Kieffer Moore, and Harry Wilson. Meanwhile, Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas retains his place having impressed on loan at Stoke City.
However, there are several notable omissions from the squad. Ben Colwill, Fin Stevens, Joe Low, Charlie Crew, Charlie Savage, and Matt Baker, who were all part of Rob Page's final squad in June, have been left out and are likely to feature for the Wales Under-21s against Iceland on 10 September.
Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead of Ipswich Town are absent due to injuries, as is Bournemouth's David Brooks. Coventry City's Jay Dasilva, who won his first Wales caps in the summer, is also overlooked, along with the likes of Dylan Levitt and Tom Bradshaw.
Wales Squad:
Goalkeepers: Danny Ward, Adam Davies, Karl Darlow
Defenders: Ben Davies, Owen Beck, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts
Midfielders: Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Aaron Ramsey, Ollie Cooper, Sorba Thomas
Forwards: Kieffer Moore, Lewis Koumas, Brennan Johnson, Harry Wilson, Daniel James, Mark Harris, Liam Cullen, Rabbi Matondo
Bellamy will be looking to build on the success of the previous regime under Rob Page, who led Wales to the World Cup in Qatar last year. The new manager faces a tough task in his first assignment, with Wales set to face group stage matches against Latvia, Armenia, and Turkey in the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.
