Wales could see a new midfielder come through the ranks if former England U17s player Ellen Jones makes her debut next month having switched allegiances.
Jones, 20, has been named in Wales manager Gemma Grainger's squad for the upcoming matches against Northern Ireland and Portugal.
Jones, who is on loan at English Championship side Coventry United from Leicester City, was capped by Grainger when she was England U17s boss, and has now followed her former manager to Wales, having been involved in a training camp last June.
Jones, who was also a promising tennis player, attended the Cathedral School in Cardiff before heading to university in America. She had played for Wales U15s before being capped eight times for England U17s by Grainger and has now pledged allegiance at senior level to Wales, the land of her father.
Grainger said: "I know the type of player Ellen is which really helps. I’ve taken her to a Euros already with England U17s so know what she is like in those situations.
“She’s somehow managed to pick up an American accent which I don’t know how she’s managed. She can play on the wing and in the middle of the pitch. It’s the type of ability we want to bring into the camp."
Jones switching allegiance from England may spark similar moves, something which Grainger admits is already happening. “We have a list of players we are constantly monitoring," she said. "There is also a list who have been contacting us about their eligibility and about representing Wales going forward.”
Wales' most-capped footballer Jess Fishlock will also be available, having been included in the 26-player squad despite her Seattle-based club OL Reign's NWSL season in America beginning only last week.
Fortunately, any concerns about further retirements are not on the manager’s mind as she is “not expecting any” in the near future. “She [Jess] wants to represent her country at every opportunity which is great," Grainger added.
Returning to the squad are Ffion Morgan of Bristol City and Chloe Williams of Blackburn Rovers (on loan from Manchester United), with Leicester's Carrie Jones and Liverpool's Ceri Holland also involved.
“Carrie Jones is a fantastic young player that we will look towards." Grainger said of the new generation of Wales talent. "But there are others like Ceri Holland who will step up as well. We have goals across that front line which is really pleasing to be able to say.”
Goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan of Cardiff City Ladies remains the only Wales-based player in the squad.
Wales face Northern Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, April 6 (7.15pm kick-off) before travelling to Guimaraes to face Portugal on Tuesday, April 11. Both matches will be broadcast live on BBC Wales.
The fixtures mark the first games since the retirement of Wales record goal-scorer Helen Ward, who announced earlier this month that she was retiring from Wales duty and will hang up her boots altogether at the end of Watford's season. An emotional send-off is planned at the Northern Ireland game so Wales fans can show their appreciation for a true servant to Welsh football. Ward told WalesOnline that this occasion will probably hit her hardest. You can read the full interview here.
Grainger said: “In Helen Ward we have our very own Gareth Bale. We want her to still be talking to us and visible to the youth teams to help inspire them.”
Wales' two games in April follow an unbeaten Pinatar Cup campaign earlier this year where they beat the Philippines and drew with Scotland and Iceland. The team are now unbeaten in four matches.
The games will be the perfect opportunity for Grainger to prepare her Wales squad for the inaugural Women’s Nations League later this year. The draw for the competition will take place on May 2. Early next year, Wales will begin their qualification campaign for the Women's Euros in 2025, having narrowly missed out on their first-ever major tournament by losing to Switzerland in a World Cup play-off final last October.
Wales squad: Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Olivia Clark (Bristol City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Rhiannon Roberts (Liverpool), Charlie Estcourt (Birmingham City), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Josie Green (Leicester City), Gemma Evans (Reading), Lily Woodham (Reading), Esther Morgan (Sunderland – on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Anna Filbey (Crystal Palace), Angharad James (Tottenham Hotspur), Jess Fishlock (OL Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Megan Wynne (Southampton), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Georgia Walters (Sheffield United), Carrie Jones (Leicester City), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Rachel Rowe (Reading), Chloe Williams (Blackburn Rovers - on loan from Manchester United), Alice Griffiths (Southampton), Ellen Jones (Coventry United - on loan from Leicester City).
