Sports
Albania v Wales: Rhian Wilkinson wants clean sheet in Women’s World Cup play-off semi-final first leg
Wales are without nine regular members of their squad for the next stage of their bid to reach a first World Cup.
Olivia Clark, Poppy Soper, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Ella Powell, Laura Hughes, Mia Ross, Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland – who has been Wales’ most influential performer since the retirement of Jess Fishlock – are all absent through injury.
Aside from back-up keeper Soper, all those players would have been contenders to play some part in the two Albania ties.
The long list of absentees means there is a youthful look to Wales’ current squad, with six uncapped players and a number of others with minimal international experience involved.
Nevertheless, Wilkinson says Wales are well placed to cope thanks to their regular policy of inviting young players to train with her senior side.
“I think it would be silly for me to say that having nine injuries was predictable – I think that was out of the norm,” Wilkinson said.
“If I could have had no injuries I would have, but equally this is football and we adapt and we are a small country.
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