Wales: Ellen Jones could make international debut after allegiance switch
- Published
Wales: Ellen Jones 'very committed' after switching allegiance says Gemma Grainger
International friendly: Wales v Northern Ireland |
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Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Thursday, 6 April Kick-off: 19:15 BST |
Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Cymru Fyw, the BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app. |
Ellen Jones could make her international debut after being named in Wales' squad for next month's games against Northern Ireland and Portugal.
The midfielder, 20, was capped by Gemma Grainger when the current Wales manager was England Under-17s boss, but has switched international allegiance.
Grainger has also recalled Ffion Morgan and Chloe Williams, who missed out on the Pinatar Cup campaign.
But Brighton striker Kayleigh Green misses out with injury.
Jones, who is on loan at Championship side Coventry United from Leicester City, attended the Cathedral School in Cardiff before heading to university in America.
A promising tennis player, she played for Wales Under-15s before being capped eight times by England at under-17 level by Grainger.
She was called up by Grainger for a training camp in June 2022, and will now hope to make her Wales debut having opted to play for the land of her father.
Grainger said: "It's a real positive to have Ellen coming into the squad and gives us the strength and depth that we need.
"She is a player who is incredibly competitive, incredibly driven to want to be the best she can and that kind of mindset and mentality is something we want to bread in our team."
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This is the first Wales squad to be named since record goal-scorer Helen Ward announced her retirement.
The loss of Green could open opportunities for Hannah Cain and Elise Hughes.
Grainger said: "Kayleigh is a great player for us and she's a miss but what we want to make sure is that she takes care of herself and looks after herself.
"We know the Nations league draw is coming up and we want our players to be ready and fit for selection then.
"So whilst it's disappointing for Kayleigh, it gives us the opportunity to look at something different within the team and gives others the opportunity to potentially step into that role which is a huge positive for the team as well."
Record Welsh cap-holder Jess Fishlock is included despite OL Reign kicking off the season last week.
Grainger has also named Bristol City's Morgan and Manchester United's Williams - who is on loan at Blackburn - in a 26-strong squad to face Northern Ireland on 6 April at Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales then head to Guimaraes to take on Portugal at Estadio D Afonso Henriques on 11 April.
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), 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), Alice Griffiths (Southampton), Ellen Jones (Coventry United on loan).