Man Utd forward Biancheri gets first Wales U21 call

Manchester United forward Gabriele Biancheri qualifies for Wales, Canada and Italy

European Under-21 Championship qualifier: Wales v Denmark

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Monday, 8 September Kick off: 19:30 BST

Coverage: Report on BBC Sport website and app.

Manchester United forward Gabriele Biancheri has been named in Wales' squad to face Denmark in their European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Newport on 8 September.

It is a first U21 call-up for the Cardiff-born 18-year-old, who has been capped for Wales from under-16 to under-19 level but also qualifies to play for Canada and Italy - the birth places of his parents.

Biancheri has trained with both the Wales and Canada senior squads this year, with Wales head coach Craig Bellamy and Canada boss Jesse Marsch confirmed fans.

The Manchester United youngster is one of four players given their first Wales U21 calls, with Vimal Yoganathan, Dan Cox, and Kit Margetson - the son of Swansea City and Wales goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson - also included.

Luke Harris, Ben Lloyd and Ed James rejoin Matty Jones' side for the first time since March, while Joel Cotterill, Cian Ashford, Sam Parker, and Luey Giles are also included having featured in a Wales senior training camp during the last international window.

Wales will look to make a bright start at Rodney Parade against Group I top seeds Denmark, with Belgium, Austria and Belarus also in the pool.

Biancheri back but 'long way' from senior call

"It's been a fascinating journey for Gabe [Biancheri], coming through the system with us," said Jones.

"We've known all along with dual-qualified players, there will be some tension, there will be some difficult times for them throughout their progression, through our pathway, and the time came for Gabe.

"What we try to do with the younger age-group players is encourage them to have those experiences when they're younger to help them make their decisions.

"We always feel fully confident of what we create in all age groups, in terms of our environment and what it feels like and should feel like to represent our country.

"And we've always felt huge amounts of success in terms of players having a taste elsewhere. You'll remember the experience of [senior Wales midfielder] Jordan James going to England just for that one camp.

"The difficulty is the scrutiny is a lot more in the older age groups. So we have brought him [Biancheri] back in and he's itching to go."

Coincidentally, Wales' senior side will play Canada in a friendly on Tuesday, 9 September, following their World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan five days earlier.

But Bellamy does not expect Biancheri to feature in his senior squad anytime soon.

"He wasn't involved with United in pre-season. I was keeping an eye on him and it will be interesting to see where he goes," Bellamy said.

"I don't know how it went with Canada when he went there because I haven't asked him.

"I chose Canada in a friendly because I like them. They have really good habits and are ranked higher than us. We will have something to compare with when he comes in.

"I see him a long way from being in our first team. A long, long way. But what I like about him is that when you write him off, he finds a way.

"He's not quick, and can't run away from anyone, but he still finds a way. I know he is always going to do something, although I don't know when. If someone writes him of, he'll find a way to come back – the kid never goes away. I really respect that.

"I tend to really love players and I'm just so looking forward to seeing what he can do – just not yet."

Wales U21 squad

Evan Watts (Swansea City – on loan at Galway FC), Kit Margetson (Swansea City – on loan at Connah's Quay Nomads), Luke Armstrong (Cardiff City – on loan at Penybont FC), Archie Harris (AFC Bournemouth – on loan at Eastleigh FC), Luey Giles (Cardiff City), Zac Williams (Crewe Alexandra – on loan at Kilmarnock FC), Dan Cox (Derby County – on loan at Walsall FC), Ben Hammond (Nottingham Forest), Ed James (Exeter City), Sam Parker (Swansea City), Alex Williams (West Bromwich Albion), Joel Cotterill (Swansea City), Jonathan Bland (Barnsley FC), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Callum Agius (Crewe Alexandra), Cian Ashford (Cardiff City), Tanatswa Nyakuhwha (Cardiff City), Cameron Congreve (Swansea City), Ben Lloyd (Swansea City – on loan at Newport County), Luke Harris (Fulham FC – on loan at Oxford United), Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley FC), Chris Popov (Leicester City), Gabriele Biancheri (Manchester United).