Jayne Ludlow insists she’s not worried by a Wales team that have forgotten how to score goals. On a night when Loren Dykes put two zeros next to her name – becoming only the second Welsh woman after Jess Fishlock to win 100 caps – Wales did the same by recording a 0-0 draw at home to the Czech Republic on Thursday. It may only have been a friendly at Rodney Parade, but as Wales head towards more European Championship qualifiers later this year they need to rectify a lack of effective firepower.

Loren Dykes will prove on Thursday night that however fast-growing, exciting and fresh-faced women’s football has become there is still a place for the more experienced campaigners in Jayne Ludlow’s set-up. The Bristol City defender may not be one of the headline acts in the Welsh team, but she is certainly part of the bedrock – and has been ever since she won the first of what will become a century of caps against the Netherlands way back in August, 2007.

Loren Dykes could join the 100 club after being named in the Wales women squad for the friendly with the Czech Republic in Newport on April 4. The Bristol City defender has won 99 caps and will become only the second player to reach the century – joining Jess Fishlock – if she plays at Rodney Parade.

She already has one Uefa Women’s Champions League winners’ medal, but Jess Fishlock doesn’t really count that one. But now the 31-year-old Welsh midfield star is on course to earn the biggest gong of her incredible, globe-trotting career after helping to steer the reigning champions Lyon into the semi-finals of this year’s tournament.

Jayne Ludlow takes Welsh women’s football into a new era in Italy tomorrow night – even though most of the faces are familiar. The Wales manager might have been preparing to take her team to the World Cup finals this summer if last year’s qualification campaign had turned out differently. Instead, a near miss meant Wales missed out and so the Tuesday night friendly in Cesena is preparation for the next series of European qualifiers this autumn rather than a place in the sun in France.

Jess Fishlock has been included in Jayne Ludlow’s squad for Wales’ international friendly against Italy on January 22. Wales’ most capped player, currently on loan at Lyon from Seattle Reign, missed the November friendlies against Portugal.

Wales manager Jayne Ludlow has named nine uncapped players in the squad for the friendly double header with Portugal on November 10 and 13.

Jess Fishlock’s dream of playing football in France in 2019 will be realised after all – even if it won’t be with Wales at the Women’s World Cup. The 31-year-old midfielder has been loaned by parent club Seattle Reign to reigning European champions Olympic Lyonnais for the rest of the season, continuing the globetrotting exploits of Wales 100+ capped superstar.

Jayne Ludlow won’t be looking back in anger at her side’s narrow failure to qualify for next year’s Women’s World Cup finals in France when she convenes her next Wales squad session at the start of next month. Instead the Wales manager will be firmly focussed on the 2021 UEFA European Championship Qualifiers when she brings together 26 players for a four day training camp at the beginning of next month.

Phil Neville won’t be bothered by the Welsh boo boys and girls at Rodney Parade on Friday night – in fact, he rather agrees with the idea of haranguing his England side. Jess Fishlock, Wales’ most experienced player, called on Welsh fans to boo the English players to try to give the home side an edge in the winner-takes-all Women’s World Cup qualifier at Newport. After all, at stake is the biggest prize in football – a trip to the World Cup finals in France next year.

Wales expect record attendance of 4,000-plus for their Women’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Cardiff City Stadium this evening (7pm). Wales are top of their group having drawn in Russia and won in Kazakhstan, keeping clean sheets in both matches. Their return fixture against Kazakhstan looks certain to beat Wales’ highest attendance of 3,581, […]

Natasha Harding says Wales Women are targeting another three points from their World Cup qualifying tie in Russia on October 24. Wales opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Kazakhstan in September which leaves them second in Group A.