Wilkinson in no rush to name new Wales captain

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says she is in no rush to name a successor to captain Sophie Ingle.

Wilkinson has named a 26-player squad for Wales’ European Championship qualifying double-header against Ukraine.

Wales host Ukraine at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, 31 May, with the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 4 May, in Poland at the Stadion Dyskobolii Grodzisk Wielkopolski.

Wilkinson has nearly all her key personnel available in the squad apart from long-term absentees Elise Hughes and Hannah Cain, who are both recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Wilkinson says knee injuries are a "serious issue" and "major problem" for the women's game and have been for "many, many years".

Cap centurions Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James are all available.

Bristol City midfielder Carrie Jones is fit to return to the squad after injury, as is Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel.

Uncapped quartet Poppy Soper, Ellen Jones, Olivia Francis and Tianna Teisar are also selected.

Wales are without an appointed captain for the campaign after Ingle, who has played more Women’s Super League games than any other player, stood down from the role in April after nine years of wearing the armband.

Fishlock, who captained Wales before Ingle’s long tenure, led Wales for their 6-0 win in Kosovo in their last qualifier as she won her record 150th cap.

However, Wilkinson says she does not want to commit to naming a permanent captain and plans to rotate the responsibility for the foreseeable future with several capable candidates to choose from.

"Sophie made her decision looking forward at what is best for the team and it’s an amazing moment and in the same way I want to respect what she’s done and not rush to appoint someone," Wilkinson said.

"There is a lot of pressure [to do so]… but there are a lot of women on this team who can wear the armband."

Wales are top of their group after the first two games and Wilkinson says she believes there are improvements that can be made on their impressive 4-0 win over Croatia and 6-0 victory in Kosovo.

"Ukraine will be a great test, a new team to prepare for. These games are important for me to bed in my ideas and philosophies. But it is all in preparation of the play-offs," Wilkinson said.

"I think there is tightening up that needs to be done for when we play stronger opposition and Ukraine are the next team in front of us."

Goalkeepers: Olivia Clark (Bristol City), Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Charlton Athletic)

Defenders: Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Charlie Estcourt (Reading), Josie Green (Leicester City), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Gemma Evans (Manchester United), Mayzee Davies (Manchester United), Lily Woodham (Seattle Reign), Ella Powell (Bristol City),

Midfielders: Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Alice Griffiths (Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (London City Lionesses), Rachel Rowe (Rangers), Carrie Jones (Bristol City), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool)

Forwards: Ellen Jones (Sunderland), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Olivia Francis (Manchester United), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City).