Post by gw on Nov 8, 2006 13:57:42 GMT -1
Sunderland goalkeeper Darren Ward has won a Wales recall nearly three years after he played his last international.
Wales boss John Toshack has included the 32-year-old in his squad for the friendly against Liechtenstein at Wrexham on 14 November.
Captain Ryan Giggs returns from injury, as do defenders James Collins and Sam Ricketts, and midfielder Carl Fletcher.
Swansea midfielder Owain Tudur Jones is the only uncapped player in the squad, while striker Craig Davies is included.
Jones suffered a recurrence of his knee injury against Bournemouth on Friday, but will hope to recover in time for the game.
Davies, who is on loan with Wolves from Verona, and Wrexham's Chris Llewellyn are currently suspended but available to face Liechtenstein as it is not a competitive game.
Paul Jones will still be involved with us in the future, but I must look at other goalkeepers and this gives me my chance
Wales manager John Toshack
Aston Villa's Mark Delaney is the one notable outfield absentee, as the right-back remains sidelined after having knee surgery.
Veteran goalkeeper Paul Jones is unavailable for personal reasons, while Ipswich stopper Lewis Price is recovering from a cracked rib.
"Paul hasn't been left out because he got his hair shaved for the last game or because of the five goals he let in but he is not available for personal, family reasons," said Toshack.
"He will still be involved with us in the future, but I must look at other goalkeepers and this gives me my chance."
Although Ward has earned his recall and Burnley's Danny Coyne returns after injury, Blackburn's Jason Brown is likely to be the first choice keeper for the match in Wrexham.
Worksop-born Ward last played for Wales in the 4-0 friendly win against Scotland in Cardiff in February 2004, but lost his place in the squad after his move from Nottingham Forest to Norwich later that year.
Ward made only three senior appearances for the East Anglian club, playing second fiddle to Robert Green for most of the time.
The inactivity and lack of top-level competition meant Ward slipped out of the Wales set-up.
But he joined Sunderland on a free transfer in the summer, and new boss Roy Keane has brought him into the Championship side over the last month after Ben Alnwick was dropped.
Ward, who has five caps, has now played the last five games for Sunderland, and that has brought him back into the frame as Toshack searches for goalkeeping strength.
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Wales squad to face Liechtenstein in Wrexham (14 November):
Jason Brown (Blackburn), Danny Coyne (Burnley), Darren Ward (Sunderland), Gareth Bale (Southampton), James Collins (West Ham), Richard Duffy (Portsmouth; loan Coventry), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Craig Morgan (MK Dons; loan Wrexham), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby; loan Sunderland), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Andrew Crofts (Gillingham), Simon Davies (Everton), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Owain Tudur Jones (Swansea), Jason Koumas (West Brom), Joe Ledley (Cardiff, Carl Robinson (Norwich), David Vaughan (Crewe), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), David Cotterill (Wigan), Craig Davies (Verona; loan Wolves), Rob Earnshaw (Norwich), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd), Chris Llewellyn (Wrexham), Paul Parry (Cardiff).
We should beat these easily
Wales boss John Toshack has included the 32-year-old in his squad for the friendly against Liechtenstein at Wrexham on 14 November.
Captain Ryan Giggs returns from injury, as do defenders James Collins and Sam Ricketts, and midfielder Carl Fletcher.
Swansea midfielder Owain Tudur Jones is the only uncapped player in the squad, while striker Craig Davies is included.
Jones suffered a recurrence of his knee injury against Bournemouth on Friday, but will hope to recover in time for the game.
Davies, who is on loan with Wolves from Verona, and Wrexham's Chris Llewellyn are currently suspended but available to face Liechtenstein as it is not a competitive game.
Paul Jones will still be involved with us in the future, but I must look at other goalkeepers and this gives me my chance
Wales manager John Toshack
Aston Villa's Mark Delaney is the one notable outfield absentee, as the right-back remains sidelined after having knee surgery.
Veteran goalkeeper Paul Jones is unavailable for personal reasons, while Ipswich stopper Lewis Price is recovering from a cracked rib.
"Paul hasn't been left out because he got his hair shaved for the last game or because of the five goals he let in but he is not available for personal, family reasons," said Toshack.
"He will still be involved with us in the future, but I must look at other goalkeepers and this gives me my chance."
Although Ward has earned his recall and Burnley's Danny Coyne returns after injury, Blackburn's Jason Brown is likely to be the first choice keeper for the match in Wrexham.
Worksop-born Ward last played for Wales in the 4-0 friendly win against Scotland in Cardiff in February 2004, but lost his place in the squad after his move from Nottingham Forest to Norwich later that year.
Ward made only three senior appearances for the East Anglian club, playing second fiddle to Robert Green for most of the time.
The inactivity and lack of top-level competition meant Ward slipped out of the Wales set-up.
But he joined Sunderland on a free transfer in the summer, and new boss Roy Keane has brought him into the Championship side over the last month after Ben Alnwick was dropped.
Ward, who has five caps, has now played the last five games for Sunderland, and that has brought him back into the frame as Toshack searches for goalkeeping strength.
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Wales squad to face Liechtenstein in Wrexham (14 November):
Jason Brown (Blackburn), Danny Coyne (Burnley), Darren Ward (Sunderland), Gareth Bale (Southampton), James Collins (West Ham), Richard Duffy (Portsmouth; loan Coventry), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Craig Morgan (MK Dons; loan Wrexham), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby; loan Sunderland), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Andrew Crofts (Gillingham), Simon Davies (Everton), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Owain Tudur Jones (Swansea), Jason Koumas (West Brom), Joe Ledley (Cardiff, Carl Robinson (Norwich), David Vaughan (Crewe), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), David Cotterill (Wigan), Craig Davies (Verona; loan Wolves), Rob Earnshaw (Norwich), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd), Chris Llewellyn (Wrexham), Paul Parry (Cardiff).
We should beat these easily
