Ethan Ampadu: Exeter City youngster included in Wales squad

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Ethan AmpaduImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Ethan Ampadu is the son of former Arsenal, West Brom and Swansea City midfielder Kwame Ampadu

World Cup qualifier: Serbia v Wales

Date: Sunday, 11 June Venue :Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary.

Exeter City teenager Ethan Ampadu is one of seven uncapped players named in Wales' squad for a training camp in Portugal ahead of June's World Cup qualifier in Serbia.

The 16-year-old defensive player has represented Wales up to Under-19 level, but is also eligible for England.

Everton's Gethin Jones and fellow defender Tom Lockyer of Bristol Rovers are also included.

Barnsley forward Marley Watkins gets a first call up.

Media caption,

Wales youngsters ‘have earned’ call ups - Coleman

Wales will hold a training camp at the Vale do Lobo resort in Portugal ahead of the qualifier in Serbia on 11 June.

Chris Coleman's side are third in their qualifying group after four consecutive draws, four points behind leaders Serbia with five games remaining.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor are suspended for the game in Belgrade and have not been included in Coleman's squad.

MK Dons defender Joe Walsh, Wolves midfielder Lee Evans and Liverpool forward Ben Woodburn are other uncapped players in the squad.

Woodburn is joined in the squad by Liverpool team-mate Harry Wilson, Wales' youngest ever international player.

Ampadu made his professional debut in August 2016 and was named Wales' young player of the year in November,

He was on a standby list for Wales' World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in March.

Defender Jones spent the second half of the 2016-17 season on loan at Championship side Barnsley, where he made 17 appearances.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Marley Watkins has also played for Cheltenham Town, Bath City and Hereford

The 21-year-old was born in Perth, Australia, and the Socceroos have been keen to bring the Porthmadog-raised youngster on board.

However, Wales boss Chris Coleman says the defender is 'fully committed' to Wales.

Lewisham-born Watkins, 26, scored 10 goals for Barnsley during the 2016-17 Championship season but has rejected a new deal with the Tykes.

Watkins, who started his career as a youth player at Swansea City and has also played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, is the grandson of Welsh poet Vernon Watkins.

Cardiff-born Lockyer, 22, has represented Wales at Under-21 level.

Wales squad: Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Ward (Liverpool - on loan at Huddersfield Town), Fôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chester (Aston Villa), John (Cardiff City), Walsh (MK Dons), Gunter (Reading), Richards (Cardiff City) Williams (Everton), Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Jones (Everton) Ampadu (Exeter City), Allen (Stoke City), Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lawrence (Leicester City), Huws (Cardiff City) Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ledley (Crystal Palace), Ramsey (Arsenal), Watkins (Barnsley), Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion), Bradshaw (Barnsley), Vokes (Burnley), Wilson (Liverpool) Woodburn (Liverpool)

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