Tom Lawrence: Forward named in Wales squad after drink-drive charge
- Published
Giggs defends Lawrence Wales selection
Euro 2020 qualifier: Slovakia v Wales |
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Venue: Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava Date: Thursday, 10 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST |
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary. |
Derby forward Tom Lawrence has been included in the Wales squad for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Slovakia and Croatia later this month.
Lawrence, 25, was charged with drink driving following a crash in September.
He played for Derby on Wednesday and manager Phillip Cocu said he is not yet "off the hook" with the club.
Ashley Williams and Rabbi Matondo are recalled to the squad for the trip to Slovakia on 10 October with a home game against Croatia on 13 October.
Lawrence and Rams team-mate Mason Bennett are due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on 15 October, two days after Wales host Croatia in Cardiff.
Liverpool's Ben Woodburn, who is on loan at Oxford United, is not included, along with injured David Brooks, of Bournemouth, and German club St Pauli's James Lawrence.
Woodburn has been named for the first time in a Wales Under-21s squad as they prepare to face Moldova in a Euro U21s qualifier on Friday, 11 October.
Tom Lawrence returned to the Derby side at Barnsley on Wednesday night
Long-time captain Williams was left out of Wales squad to face Belarus and Azerbaijan in September, having started the season without a club.
The 35-year-old has since become a regular at Championship side Bristol City and insists he wants to continue his international career as long as possible.
Matondo, 19, gets his recall days after scoring his first goal in Germany's Bundesliga.
Having joined from Manchester City he scored for FC Schalke against RB Leipzig where Ethan Ampadu, also named in Giggs' squad, is finding it hard to break into the first team.
Aaron Ramsey returns having been forced to withdraw from September's games due to lack of fitness following long-term injury.
The former Arsenal player last played for his country in a November 2018 friendly against Albania.
Ramsey has since impressed in a number of appearances for new club Juventus, though mainly as a substitute.
There may be a question mark over Gareth Bale's fitness. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he rested Bale for Tuesday's Champions League draw against Club Bruges because of injury.
Wales squad:
Hennessey, Ward; A Davies, Gunter, A Williams, B Davies, Taylor, C Roberts, Ampadu, Mepham, Lockyer, Rodon, Ramsey, Allen, J Williams, Wilson, Smith, James, Vaulks, Morrell, Bale, Vokes, Lawrence, T Roberts, Matondo, Moore.