Liverpool teen Ben Woodburn is in Wales squad
Last updated on .From the section Football
| World Cup qualifier: Republic of Ireland v Wales |
|---|
| Date: Friday, 24 March Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary. |
Teenager Ben Woodburn has received a first call up to Wales' squad for their World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on 24 March.
The 17-year-old has made seven appearances for Liverpool this season and become their youngest scorer.
The Chester-born forward qualifies for Wales through his maternal grandfather and has already played at under-16, under-18 and under-19 level.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are also included after returning from injury.
Manager Chris Coleman's side are third in Group D, four points behind Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland, who are top.
Forward Bale, 27, has featured in five games for Real after recovering from ankle injury which kept him out of action for three months.
Midfielder Ramsey was sidelined for a month by a calf injury but has played in Arsenal's last two matches.
Coleman has also included striker Tom Lawrence, who has scored 11 goals during a season-long loan at Ipswich Town from Leicester City.
The only other uncapped player in Coleman's squad is MK Dons defender Joe Walsh, although uncapped Barnsley winger Marley Watkins is named on a stand-by list as Wales have a couple of minor injury concerns.
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'Not about England'
Coleman says Woodburn's inclusion is not a spur of the moment decision and is not about keeping him away from England.
"Everyone got excited about Ben when he burst into the Liverpool side and said 'we should be looking at Ben Woodburn', but we've been excited about him since he was 13 years old," Coleman said.
"He's been in our system for five years, so we know all about him; he's done well this season. We are looking forward to having him on board."
Coleman rejected suggestions England were a factor in the decision to pick Woodburn.
"Absolutely not, that is not the case," he said. "If we want to put him on for tactical reasons, it would be for that, but not because we are worried about anyone else looking at him.
"He has been part of the Welsh set-up since he was a young boy. There will be no knee-jerk reaction to cap him.
"If Ben wanted to go and play for England, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
"None of our players belong to us. They aren't contracted to us. But he's earned this call-up.
"If I thought it was too early I wouldn't call him up because this game is massive for us.
"It's not about what game is good to get him in, it's the best squad. He's a Welsh international, he's played for us since a young boy and this is a the natural progression for him."
Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams, Ben Davies, James Chester, James Collins, Joe Walsh, Chris Gunter, Jazz Richards, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, David Edwards, Andy King, Tom Lawrence, Joe Ledley, Shaun MacDonald, Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu, Tom Bradshaw, Sam Vokes, Ben Woodburn
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Can some people not see past the hate and bile for just one moment and wish a young man well on his journey?
He's 17 for heaven's sake and this will be the highlight of his career and something to be proud of
I hope for him he enjoys the moment and does himself proud, even though some bitter individuals won't want him to because he plays for a club they choose to 'hate'!
He might be a great player, he might disappear. But he deserves his chance.
Man U fan.
What a waste of talent so early in his career.
If he goes on to be any good he'll be stuck with Wales forever after they give him a cameo role to lock him into their side.
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Do you even watch football?.
England have been garbage for decades.
"...and we care because...?"
... because we're Welsh and he's been called up to the Welsh squad.
OR
... because we're Liverpool supporters and one of our young players has been called up to an international squad.
If you're neither Welsh nor a Liverpool supporter then nobody expects you to care. Move along.
It's your blood that matters, the concept of 'nation' is founded on the myth of a common genetic heritage, after all.
Then again, how many 'pure breds' can you name? All my grandparents were Welsh but you'd still consider me Nepalese!
He might fulfill that potential but we can't pick and choose that easy!
Jones/Stones/Smalling all accidents waiting to happen. Walker and Clyne great in attack. Not so strong in defence.
You feel like the Welsh defence is a lot more solid.
@67 A good side? Which one might that be then? Ohhh Wales, yeah
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Very astute dear chap.
The team that beat Belgium to reach the semis, got further in the Euros than England, the England team that lost to the Mighty Iceland, the team that went home in disgrace without getting out of a weak group.
How you can criticise Wales after that shambles I don't know.
That means he doesn't have to team up with that joke that is the England squad. It saves him from ridiculous media attention and the route one caveman tactics that England managers love. Oh, and he'll be playing for a good side too...
Any chance that the likes of Rashford and co have Welsh blood in them to save them from the English national squad?
This lad has the chance to play for a team with the potential to win tournaments , one of the worlds top footballing nations and a great pedigree........his grandmother is from Iceland.
2 hours ago
Back off lads, the lad is only a kid yet.
He might be a great player, he might disappear. But he deserves his chance.
Man U fan.
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Good post
Except the last little bit
He's English born, raised in England by English parents... he's English. Just obviously has an inadequate grandfather who is so insecure he pushed representing Wales on him
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You know his Grandfather? Is he really that pushy? Is he really inadequate?
I wouldn't invite him over for tea again, he'd dunk you.