Chris Coleman has admitted he is happy to make waves across the border if it means Wales can fish from England’s pool of talent.
The Wales manager has said he knew it would create a stir if he included David Brooks in his senior squad for the first time, given that the Sheffield United striker has already worn a shirt adorned with three lions.
Brooks has been named in the Wales squad for their final 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland, even though he has only started three league games for the Blades.
But he has earned rave reviews at Bramall Lane and shone in the 4-2 Steel City derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday last Sunday.
The 20-year-old Warrington-born striker starred in England’s Toulon Tournament success this summer, when he was named the best player in the competition.
But Brooks, who qualifies for Wales through his Wrexham-born mother, switched allegiance in August when he was named in Rob Page’s Under 21 squad.
He then scored in a 3-0 victory for the U21s in Switzerland and his commitment to Wales is another boost for senior manager Chris Coleman.
Coleman says: “We’re not the only country that have one or two players with dual nationality.
“But I think it’s a feather in the cap of our system and our structure that these players are coming to us. Brooksy is another, he’s in our framework and he’s earned his chance to come and join the first team.”
Asked whether he was always confident that Brooks would return to the Wales set-up after the Toulon tournament, Coleman said: “You can never tell. We were hopeful.
“I think the connection has always been there. He’s obviously shown great promise for some years. Luckily for us he’s chosen Wales.
“I’m sure that will cause one or two ripples on the other side of the Bridge. It caused a bit of a stir with Ben Woodburn, albeit Ben had been with us for some years.”
Liverpool teenager Woodburn, who was born in Nottingham and grew up in Cheshire, made a spectacular impact for Wales earlier this month.
Woodburn scored the winner against Austria less than five minutes after coming on for his debut as a second-half substitute.
He then set up Hal Robson-Kanu for the opening goal in a 2-0 victory in Moldova as Wales kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
In theory, Brooks could yet switch back to England if he does not get on the field in either qualifier, but Coleman insists he is not going to cap a player just to prevent a rival’s claim.
“No, I don’t feel obliged to cap anybody unless it suits the first team and suits us,” he said.
“It’s commitment, isn’t it? You can’t be in when you feel like it. You’re either in for the long run or don’t be in at all. So anybody that is with us, that’s chosen to be in our squad, whether they’re capped or not, they’re there for the long run. That’s how it should be and that’s how I see it.”
Cardiff defender Jazz Richards misses out with an ankle injury which is likely to require surgery and keep him out of action for up to three months.
Veteran centre back James Collins is also absent after missing West Ham’s last two games with an ankle problem, while Preston goalkeeper Chris Maxwell replaces Barnsley’s Adam Davies in the 23-man squad.
Wales are currently in second place in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one point above the Republic.
