World Cup 2022: Ollie Cooper will join Wales squad as back-up as Luke Harris misses out
- Published
Ollie Cooper has represented Wales at under-21 level
Ollie Cooper will travel to the World Cup as one of Wales' two standby players after Fulham teenager Luke Harris pulled out for personal reasons.
Swansea City attacking midfielder Cooper, 22, and Birmingham City's Jordan James, 18, were not included in Wales' official 26-man squad.
They will not be able to play unless anyone withdraws before the opener with the United States on 21 November.
Neither Cooper nor James is yet to win a full Wales cap.
Harris was originally named as one of Wales' back-up players, but the Football Association of Wales announced on Friday - just 24 hours after he was called up - that the 17-year-old would not be travelling.
Hereford-born James, son of former Hereford United, Burton Albion and Newport County defender Tony James, and Harris, who is also yet to make a senior international appearance, both earned their first call-up in September.
"It's important we've got one eye on the future," said Wales boss Rob Page, thinking ahead to the Euro 2024 qualifiers. "March comes around quickly and we've got to have one eye on that.
"In the future, when the senior boys decide they're not going to play for Wales any more, it won't be too much of a culture shock and the change won't be so severe."