Gareth Bale is poised to return to the Wales squad – but as a mentor, rather than a maestro on the field. Wales manager Rob Page has held talks this week with Bale about a formal role that will tap into his vast knowledge and expertise, but will not involve coaching. Bale is living in LA and has been playing a lot of golf since he retired from football in January, but Page has kept in regular contact and views the former captain as an asset on the route to qualification for Euro 2024.

David Brooks has been handed an emotional return to the Wales camp for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey. But while Wales head coach Rob Page was delighted to welcome back the Bournemouth playmaker, he was forced to exclude Luton Town skipper Tom Lockyer after his collapse in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

Wales will play South Korea at home in a September friendly. It will be the first time the two nations have met at senior men’s level and will take place at Cardiff City Stadium on September 7, four days before Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifier in Latvia.

Wales boss Rob Page wants clarity from Nottingham Forest over Neco Williams’ injury ahead of next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. Full-back Williams was ruled out for the rest of the Premier League season after breaking his jaw against Brighton on April 26.

Russell Martin is expected to be offered the role of Southamton’s new manager next week. That will be a huge blow to Swansea City who hoped Martin would fulfil his final contracted year as head coach and build on the team’s excellent finish to their Championship season.

Rob Edwards has called on Luton to play “like our lives depend on it” in Tuesday’s Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Sunderland. The Hatters’ dreams of reaching the Premier League for the first time in their history suffered a setback on Saturday after Sunderland hit back from an early deficit to claim a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

Wales and Tottenham defender Ben Davies has praised the impact made by interim boss Ryan Mason since he took charge. Mason claimed his first victory during his second caretaker spell in charge of Spurs with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Chris Gunter insists he is already looking forward to coaching the next generation of Wales stars after announcing his intention to retire from playing. The former Wales defender – who quit international football two months ago after winning 109 caps – will join the Wales staff as a national team development coach after announcing his retirement from playing at the end of the season.

Wales feel the legacy left by Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and others at Euro 2016 has been integral to them qualifying for a first major youth tournament for over 40 years. Later this month Wales will join the likes of England, France and Germany at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Hungary.

Wales and Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams says he is ‘gutted’ that he will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a fractured jaw in his side’s 3-1 win over Brighton. Attention will now turn to Wales’ medial staff in hoping to ensure the 22-year-old is fit and available for Wales’ European Championship qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey in June.

Niall Flint is the hero Aberystwyth Town will toast this summer after the club made sure they will be in the JD Cymru Premier next season – for the 32nd consecutive time. It was Flint who grabbed the Aber winner in stoppage time in their weekend thrilling 3-2 win over Caernarfon Town.

Wales and Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks has revealed how his treatment for cancer left him struggling to get up the stairs as he battled his way back to fitness. The 25-year-old Wales international made a welcome return to competitive action against Aston Villa last month, having last featured in a game in September 2021, shortly after which he was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.