The memories will live on forever, but Euro 2016 is a thing of the past and next month Wales will begin their task of qualifying for their first World Cup finals since 1958. As is often the case every two years with major nations, some players will slowly slip out of the squad and new names will be introduced.
Dai Sport columnist Ross Tyson looks at 11 players, who were not with the Wales squad in France, but who could make an impact on the road to Russia. Manager Chris Coleman will name his squad on Wednesday, with the opening game of the campaign on September 5, at home to Moldova.
- Chris Maxwell (Preston NE) – Wales’ goalkeepers seem set in stone, but former U21 stopper Maxwell will hope to be the first deputy should an injury arise. Getting into Preston’s starting line-up and playing regularly will only help his cause.
- Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers) – Henley wouldn’t have been too far from Wales’ Euro 2016 squad and if he can continue to play regularly for Blackburn Rovers he will demand to be in Chris Coleman’s thoughts. Could well be pushing Adam Matthews and Jazz Richards as deputy full back.
- Declan John (Cardiff City) – John looks to be a first choice full back for Cardiff this season and he’s already been capped twice by Wales. Impressive performances in the Championship, in a system similar to that adopted by the national team, will only help his chances of winning the full back rumble.
- Paul Dummett (Newcastle United) – Coleman opted to take only seven defenders to France. Had it been eight, Dummett would most likely have gone. Newcastle’s relegation may offer Dummett a permanent role in the first XI and his versatility will be attractive over a long qualifying campaign.
- Joel Lynch (QPR) – Despite Wales’ defensive solidity there is not a long list of ‘by-trade’ centre backs after first choice James Chester and Ashley Williams, plus the often unfancied James Collins. Lynch has only been capped once by Wales, in 2012, but a move to promotion-chasing QPR could spell the rebirth of his international career.
- Emyr Huws (Cardiff City) – Huws was the most controversial omission from a fairly uncontroversial Euro 2016 squad. With David Edward and David Vaughan in their 30s, Huws’ path seems fairly straightforward. A move to Cardiff City will, hopefully, see his nomadic club career settle down and his international chances increase.
- Gwion Edwards (Peterborough) – The former Swansea man has never been capped at senior level, but three goals in his first three appearances for new club Peterborough could see that change. Goals from the wide position will only help the Lampeter-born winger further impress the Welsh management.
- Ben Woodburn (Liverpool) – Unless you follow Liverpool’s or Wales’ youth teams you may not be familiar with Ben Woodburn, but he made a big impact on Liverpool’s pre-season – impressing Jurgen Klopp and scoring twice. Wales may need to cap him to keep him from England’s grasp and then re-assess closer to 2018.
- Ched Evans (Chesterfield) – Off the field issues and factors may affect Coleman’s decision, here, of course. But, on the field, Evans is striving to stake a claim to be re-introduced into the national squad. He scored four in his first three Chesterfield appearances but his re-trial is due to begin in October.
- Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley) – Injury ruled Bradshaw out of a potential trip to France when many fans were hoping for his inclusion. In the off-season, he moved from League One to the Championship and is hoping the move will cement his place in the Welsh squad.
- Wes Burns (Aberdeen) – Burns was, perhaps, the surprise inclusion in Wales’s Euro 2016 provisional squad and he’ll hope a loan move north of the border will see him secure guaranteed first team games and a healthy goal return. He’s already in the manager’s thoughts but will want to now nail down a regular squad place.
Coleman will name his first World Cup qualifying squad on September 24. It will be interesting to see how many, if any, of these 11 players get the call.
