Coventry teenager Kai Andrews handed Wales call up for World Cup qualifiers
Coventry teenager Kai Andrews is the surprise name in a Wales squad disrupted by injuries for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Andrews, a Wales Under-19 international, is currently on loan at Motherwell and impressed in their William Hill Premiership victory at Rangers last weekend.
The 18-year midfielder, who qualifies for Wales through his Abercarn-born grandmother, has made two senior appearances for Coventry and was sent out on loan by Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard in January to gain first-team experience.
Wales start their World Cup campaign at home to Kazakhstan in Cardiff on March 22 before visiting North Macedonia three days later and will be without key figures.
Manager Craig Bellamy has lost central midfielder Ethan Ampadu and attacker Harry Wilson, arguably Wales' two most important players, to injury.
Captain Aaron Ramsey suffered suspected hamstring damage playing for Cardiff on Tuesday and has been replaced by Tom Lawrence.
Rangers forward Lawrence has not played for Wales since a friendly win over Mexico in March 2021.
Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies and Ipswich winger Wes Burns, both present in November as Wales beat Turkey to top spot in their Nations League group, are unavailable after undergoing surgery.
Swansea midfielder Ollie Cooper returns to a 26-man squad after injury.
There are also recalls for Sheffield United goalkeeper Adam Davies, Coventry full-back Jay DaSilva and Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo, who is currently on loan at German club Hannover.
Full squad: D Ward (Leicester), K Darlow (Leeds), A Davies (Sheff Utd), B Davies (Tottenham), J Rodon (Leeds), C Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth), B Cabango (Swansea), C Roberts (Burnley), N Williams (Nottingham Forest), J Dasilva (Coventry), J Allen (Swansea), J Sheehan (Bolton), J James (Rennes), O Cooper (Swansea), K Andrews (Motherwell, on loan from Coventry), S Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield), T Lawrence (Rangers), D Brooks (Bournemouth), K Moore (Sheff Utd), B Johnson (Tottenham), D James (Leeds), L Cullen (Swansea), N Broadhead (Ipswich), M Harris (Oxford), L Koumas (Stoke, on loan from Liverpool), R Matondo (Hannover, on loan from Rangers).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Antony opens up on Man United HELL after 'hitting rock bottom' and having 'no hope' before £86m star's sparking form on loan at Betis earned him Brazil recall
Antony has opened up on his call-up to the Brazil squad for their recent round of international fixtures after 'hitting rock bottom' at Manchester United. The Man United forward struggled to fit in under either Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim and was duly sent out on loan in January, with the message being very clear that he was deemed superfluous. However, at Real Betis Antony was rejuvenated, and went on to become one of the club's stars of the second half of the season. Despite managing only 17 contributions in 96 appearances for United, he managed 14 in 26 games in just five months with Betis. As such, he earned himself a perhaps surprising return to the Selecao, where he has now opened up on his own personal troubles this season. 'It was even more emotional, because of everything that I have been through,' the 25-year-old said of his return to the squad. 'Being in good shape, but hitting rock bottom, and having the resilience that I had, with the help of God and my family was very important for me. I started to doubt, even in myself. But, my family always told me to stay calm, because the process is painful and people must accept it. Today, I understand it better after everything I went through. I am grateful for that experience. 'I was hitting rock bottom without any hope, despite continuing to do my part for the club. 'Even though I had no hope during the difficult time I was going through, at the same time, I remembered many things which I had experienced. 'I stopped to think, and said to myself: "I have not forgotten how to play football, I did not play in a World Cup for nothing, I did not make it to the national team for nothing". 'Everything happens for a reason, and this process was very necessary for my life.' Antony has been widely tipped to leave the club this summer, having joined in Ten Hag's first transfer window for £86million, and has so far failed to deliver on that price tag. As such, it had appeared to reflect badly on Ten Hag at the time given the claims that he had been a key part of the signing, yet the co-founder of the manager's agency, has claimed in a new book that they tried to block the move. 'Ten Hag and Vos were not in favour of this and wanted to stop the transfer,' writes Kees Vos of the Antony transfer in the book, Liverpool and the Dutch. 'But the club wanted to push through at all costs, because Arsenal was also interested in Antony. 'The risk of a stronger competitor would be great. Ultimately, Manchester United paid almost 100 million euros for Antony. 'Although Ten Hag did not support this transfer, it stuck with him throughout his entire time in Manchester that he took over the attacker from Ajax for this ill-fated amount, who was never able to fulfil his promise.'
Scotsman
23 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Glasgow Warriors announce significant coach update as two major appointments made
Scotstoun outfit start to make plans for upcoming campaign Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow Warriors have confirmed their assistant coaching team for the 2025/26 campaign. Attack coach Nigel Carolan has agreed a new contract with the Scotstoun side, while he will be joined by two new members of staff in Roddy Grant and Scott Forrest to mitigate for the departure of defence coach Pete Murchie. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Carolan, Grant and Forrest will assist head coach Franco Smith for next season, with the Warriors having reached the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championships having lost to Leinster in Dublin. Smith left some doubt over his long-term future at Glasgow, saying he would take time to reflect. He led the team to the URC title in South Africa a year ago. Roddy Grant has joined the Glasgow Warriors coaching staff. | SNS Group In terms of keeping continuity, Carolan has been with Warriors since 2021 and speaking after signing his new contract, the Irishman said: 'I'm pleased to be able to extend my contract with the club – I've really enjoyed my time at Scotstoun so far, and I'm excited to continue on the journey that this club is on. 'We've got a strong group as we build towards next season, with a mix of established internationals, players looking to push on to that next level, and some exciting new talent coming through. 'I'm looking forward to being a part of it and continuing to build towards the new campaign – the atmosphere that the Warrior Nation created in the win over the Stormers a couple of weeks ago shows the passion with which this club is held by everyone connected with Glasgow Warriors.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Forrest knows Warriors well A former Scotland 7s captain, Rutherglen-born Forrest officially joins the club's coaching team after being involved with the Glasgow Warriors academy during the 2024/25 campaign, working alongside Shade Munro. The 40-year-old served as head coach for Great Britain's women's 7s squad at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, having previously held the same position for the Scotland Women's 7s squad. Forrest will join pre-season preparations at Scotstoun following the conclusion of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, where he will be serving as one of Scotland U-20's assistant coaches under Kenny Murray. 'I'm really looking forward to working with everyone – it's an incredibly exciting coaching group,' said Forrest. 'Having had the opportunity to work alongside Franco and Nigel over the past season in my role with the club's A team and academy, I'm excited to take this a step further over the coming seasons. Scott Forrest coached Glasgow Warriors A. | SNS Group 'I'd also like to mention that working alongside Pete Murchie this season has been of huge benefit – he leaves huge large shoes to fill, but I'm excited to build on the excellent work he's done since leading the team's defence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My time spent coaching the U20s over the past few years, as well as my time with Scotland 7s, mean that I know a lot of the players at the club, and having been in the environment over the last year or so I'm looking forward to continuing to build those relationships. 'I've always tried to give players the autonomy to make decisions as ultimately they are the ones that have to perform in high pressure situations. I'd say that I have a positive approach whilst always working to instil the standards required to perform at the highest level. 'I know Roddy well from our times playing for Scotland 7s together, and I've seen him go on to develop into a top-class coach. It'll be great to work alongside him once again and I'm confident we both have a lot to contribute to the environment at the Warriors.' Grant aware of Glasgow's potential Former Edinburgh Rugby flanker Grant will join Glasgow Warriors following the conclusion of his current role as assistant coach of Georgia, with whom he will work ahead of their matches with Emerging Ireland and South Africa next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Born in Botswana, the 38-year-old was a firm fan favourite over a six-year spell with Edinburgh, for whom he amassed 138 appearances in the back-row, as well as in a Scotland 7s career that saw him represent his country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 'I've had so much respect for Glasgow over the last two decades of being involved in the BKT URC – Franco [Smith] is such an impressive coach, and such an impressive person,' said Grant. 'The opportunity to come into such a successful environment and such a top-level culture was one I jumped at, and I'm looking forward to being able to contribute to that environment. 'It's a really exciting group here. Having coached against Franco for a number of years, I can't wait to work alongside him. I'm a huge admirer of Nigel's work as well, he's been hugely successful wherever he's been. To have the chance to work with Scott, too, is a special opportunity. We've known each other since 2006, so to be able to coach alongside each other is an exciting prospect. 'I like to believe that I treat people how I'd like to be treated, both on and off the field. I appreciate technique, and the art and science behind everything we do. The great thing about pro sport is that you're around incredible people, and I hope to make those strong connections with everyone here at Scotstoun.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Al Dickinson will also continue in his role as consultant Scrum Coach, with Munro working with the club's academy prospects. On the coaching appointments, Smith said: 'We are pleased to be able to confirm our coaching group as we turn our attention towards the new season. Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith. | SNS Group 'I would first like to once again thank Pete [Murchie] for everything that he has done for this club on and off the field over the past three seasons, and everyone at the club wishes him and his family well with their new adventure. 'We are pleased to be able to retain Nigel's services as we prepare for the new campaign – he is someone that is thoroughly respected by everyone in both the playing group and backroom team, and his experience and expertise are valuable assets to the club. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Belfast Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland captain Trai Hume reveals the Premier League fixture he can't wait to play in
In August, the former Linfield ace will feature in the top flight of English football for the first time in his career, and then in September he will be an important figure when Michael O'Neill's side travel to Luxembourg and Germany for their opening group games. As always, the 23-year-old will be giving everything for club and country. 'I'm really excited by it all,' said the defender. 'I'm probably not looking forward to pre-season as much because it's going to be that wee bit tougher but that's part and parcel of it. 'I'll have to work harder than I have before because I'm stepping up a level and playing in the best league in the world. 'It will be tough but I'm excited. It is a challenge I know me and my team-mates at Sunderland are looking forward to and hopefully we can get going.' As for the match in the Premier League he is savouring most, Hume replies: 'I'd be lying if I didn't say the derby (against Newcastle). For me, I was a Chelsea fan (growing up) so I'm looking forward to playing them twice, but obviously the main game is the derby.' Sunderland are going to have to defend exceptionally well in many games in the upcoming campaign just as Northern Ireland did on Tuesday to earn a clean sheet and a 1-0 friendly victory over Iceland at Windsor Park, playing with 10 men from the 57 minute mark when Brodie Spencer was sent off. It was a result that kept the team's impressive record of late in Belfast intact and was a boost ahead of the World Cup group matches versus Luxembourg and Germany. 'I thought in the end it was a good result and we kept our home record, but in the first half hour we were a bit slow and a bit loose on the ball,' said Hume. 'At the end of the first half we were good pressing them and on top of them, then the red card changed the game in the second half and we had to sit off and defend and I thought we did that excellently. 'It's (the red card) one of those things you can't control but it's good to have that experience as a team. We stuck together and thankfully got the win.' Expanding on why digging out a positive result on Tuesday with a numerical disadvantage could be beneficial long term, Hume stated: 'It's tough no matter what level playing with 10 men. You have to run that wee bit extra and put in extra hard work. 'As a young group it is good to have that experience because you never know if it will happen when it matters in competitive games. We showed great maturity and great togetherness. 'Down to 10 men you are more compact and more disciplined. You don't want to break your shape because that's when they have more chances because they have more players than us. 'We created a couple of chances when we were down to 10 men and probably could have scored a couple, but they had their fair share of chances too, so it's good to be defensively resilient.' With Northern Ireland holding on to their slender lead, courtesy of Isaac Price's superb first half strike, there were some flashpoints with the Iceland players. Captain Hume didn't shy away from getting involved after one of his crunching tackles irked the opposition and then he made his feelings known to the visitors following a cynical foul on Conor Bradley. 'I think it is always going to be that way. We are a group that is together,' said the Sunderland ace. 'We all love coming away together and playing together. When you have those flashpoints where it is a bad tackle we are going to stick by each other no matter what.' O'Neill's youthful squad will need that attitude when they face Luxembourg and Germany to kick off the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. 'They are the games that matter,' says Hume. 'We are starting the campaign off with two away games so it is going to be tough. We want to have a good start and hopefully get a win in the first game.'
