Ashley Williams is facing a fight to save his international career after being dropped from the Wales squad for the first time.
The current captain – his side’s inspirational leader at Euro 2016 in France as Wales reached the semi-finals – has been left out by manager Ryan Giggs for the crunch Euro 2020 qualifier against Azerbaijan next month.
No new captain has yet been confirmed by Giggs, but the team is expected to be led by Gareth Bale who has worn the armband in the past when Williams was in the squad, but left out of the starting team.
Williams, who turns 35 on Friday, is the third most capped Wales player of all time with only Chris Gunter (95) and Neville Southall (92) having made more than his 86 appearances.
He made his debut back in 2008 and has been an ever-present in the group under John Toshack, Gary Speed, Chris Coleman and Giggs.
But the veteran centre-half, who made his name at Swansea and spent last season on loan at Stoke, has been without a club since being released by Everton in June.
It is understood Williams has turned down offers from Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and the United States because he wants to continue playing in British football.
Bristol City could complete a move for Williams this week, but Giggs has opted to name a 26-man squad without the player who captained his country against Hungary only two months ago.
The decision suggests Giggs is looking to build a new unit at the heart of his defence, although Williams could yet battle back if he can revive his form with regular matches for Bristol City in the Championship.
Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu both return after the injuries which ruled them out of the Euro 2020 qualifying defeats to Croatia and Hungary in June.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey made his debut for new club Juventus in a friendly last weekend, while Ampadu has moved to Germany this summer after joining RB Leipzig from Chelsea on a season-long loan.
Bournemouth forward David Brooks is sidelined and will also miss the October qualifiers against Croatia and Slovakia after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this month.
But Giggs is boosted by the availability of talisman Bale, who is suddenly back in favour at Real Madrid after a public fall-out with manager Zinedine Zidane and an aborted move to the Chinese Super League.
Bale started Real’s first league game of the season last weekend and claimed an assist in the 3-1 win at Celta Vigo.
The 30-year-old’s influence is sure to be key if Wales are to keep their Euro 2020 qualification hopes alive.
Wales are six points behind leaders Group E leaders Hungary, albeit with a game in hand, and three adrift of Croatia and Slovakia ahead of Azerbaijan’s visit on September 6.
Three uncapped players – Swansea defender Joe Rodon, Bristol City midfielder Joe Morrell and Wigan striker Kieffer Moore – are included in a squad that also takes on Belarus in a Cardiff friendly on September 9.
There is no place for Newcastle defender Paul Dummett or Schalke’s former Manchester City winger Rabbi Matondo.
Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Leicester), Adam Davies (Stoke), Connor Roberts (Swansea), Chris Gunter (Reading), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), James Lawrence (Anderlecht), Tom Lockyer (Charlton), Joe Rodon (Swansea), Neil Taylor (Aston Villa), Ben Davies (Tottenham), Ethan Ampadu (RB Leipzig, on loan from Chelsea), Joe Allen (Stoke), Matthew Smith (QPR, on loan from Manchester City), Will Vaulks (Cardiff), Jonny Williams (Charlton), Aaron Ramsey (Juventus), Joe Morrell (Lincoln, on loan from Bristol City), Harry Wilson (Bournemouth, on loan from Liverpool), Daniel James (Manchester United), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Sam Vokes (Stoke), Tom Lawrence (Derby), Ben Woodburn (Oxford, on loan from Liverpool), Kieffer Moore (Wigan), Ryan Hedges (Aberdeen).
