Teenager Kai Andrews handed surprise call-up to injury-hit Wales squad for World Cup qualifiers
Coventry City 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 Scottish 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Captain Aaron Ramsey suffered suspected hamstring damage playing for Cardiff on Tuesday and has been replaced by Tom Lawrence.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 the 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.
Goalkeepers: Danny Ward (Leicester), Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheff Utd)
Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Chris Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth), Ben Cabango (Swansea), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Jay Dasilva (Coventry)
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Jordan James (Rennes), Ollie Cooper (Swansea), Kai Andrews (Motherwell, on loan from Coventry), Sorba Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield), David Brooks (Bournemouth)
Forwards: Tom Lawrence (Rangers), Kieffer Moore (Sheff Utd), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham), Dan James (Leeds), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Stoke, on loan from Liverpool), Rabbi Matondo (Hannover, on loan from Rangers)
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