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Fishlock Returns For Wales’ World Cup Qualifying Opener

Jess Fishlock returns to the Wales squad for their opening women’s 2019 World Cup qualifying trip to Kazakhstan on September 17. The Seattle Reign midfielder, who won her record 100th cap in April, sat out the two friendly games against Netherlands last July due to injury.

Jess Fishlock returns to the Wales squad for their opening women’s 2019 World Cup qualifying trip to Kazakhstan on September 17.

The Seattle Reign midfielder, who won her record 100th cap in April, sat out the two friendly games against Netherlands last July due to injury.

Fishlock was included as manager Jayne Ludlow named a squad mixed with youth and experience on Thursday.

After the campaign opener in Astana, Wales travel to Russia in October before playing their opening home game against Kazakhstan in November.

Striker Helen Ward misses out having confirmed the birth of her second child on social media on the morning of the squad announcement.

Ludlow said: ”The plan is to compete and qualify. This current group of players want to be the first to make it to do that.

“We’re very much looking forward to starting the campaign. We finished the last one on a high.”

Wales also face Bosnia-Herzegovina and England in Group 1.

Squad: Claire Skinner (Oxford United WFC) Laura O’Sullivan (Yeovil Town Ladies), Loren Dykes (Bristol City WFC), Hannah Miles (Yeovil Town Ladies), Hayley Ladd (unattached), Sophie Ingle (Liverpool Ladies), Gemma Evans (Yeovil Town Ladies), Chloe Chivers (Cardiff City Ladies), Angharad James (Everton Ladies), Chloe Lloyd (Yeovil Town Ladies), Emma Beynon (Swansea City Ladies), Grace Thomas (unattached), Georgia Evans (Bristol City), Nadia Lawrence (Yeovil Town Ladies), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Natasha Harding (Liverpool Ladies), Kayleigh Green (Yeovil Town Ladies), Rhiannon Roberts (Doncaster Rovers Belles).

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