Teenager Kpakio in Wales squad for qualifiers

2 months ago

Ronan Kpakio training pinch Wales successful Spain earlier this month

Wales caput coach Craig Bellamy has named Cardiff City teen Ronan Kpakio successful his squad for adjacent month's World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium.

Right-back Kpakio, who turned 18 this week, is included for nan first clip having been portion of Wales' training campy successful Spain earlier this month.

Cardiff academy merchandise Kpakio has only six elder Bluebirds appearances to his name. He made his debut successful nan EFL Cup past August earlier his first convention commencement came connected nan last time of nan Championship season.

Bellamy welcomes Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson backmost to his squad for games against Liechtenstein astatine nan Cardiff City Stadium connected Friday, 6 June and against Belgium successful Brussels nan pursuing Monday.

Leeds United skipper Ampadu, 24, and Fulham attacking midfielder Wilson, 28, were injured for nan opening games of nan run successful March.

While 2 of Bellamy's cardinal men return, skipper Aaron Ramsey is missing done wounded and location is nary Joe Allen aft he announced his status earlier this month.

Bellamy, who some played and coached astatine Cardiff, revealed that he has been impressed by Kpakio for immoderate time, having kept tabs connected nan youngster moreover while he was portion of Burnley's backroom staff.

"I've known Ronan since he was very, very young, I've kept an oculus connected him," Bellamy said.

"Even past twelvemonth we wanted to bargain him for Burnley, truthful I'm afloat aware, I've watched him - particularly complete nan past mates of years, his progression has been outstanding.

"His imaginable tin beryllium ridiculously high; he's very athletic, very intelligent.

"If he wasn't injured I would person had him successful March, arsenic he's a player, particularly successful nan right-back position... wherever we don't person a large area [of action choices] successful there, truthful we really request to commencement processing players successful that position.

"He's nan cleanable floor plan for that."

Bellamy has welcomed nan return of 2 "quality" performers successful Ampadu and Wilson.

"Harry, if you look astatine his performances for america successful nan first six games (of Bellamy's reign)... nan measurement he useful for nan squad is incredible," he added.

"He's a singular subordinate for america and he fits successful really good pinch really we play.

"Ethan we haven't had since September. I don't deliberation we person personification astatine this coming infinitesimal pinch his benignant of profile, truthful he has been a loss. But we ever accommodate - we person to adapt.

"Sheehs (Josh Sheehan) has done really good successful games wherever we power games. But games wherever there's going to beryllium transition, which large games really bring, we request everyone disposable and having Ethan disposable is simply a big, large prize for us."

Wales beryllium 2nd successful Group J aft opening their bid to unafraid a spot astatine nan 2026 World Cup pinch a 3-1 triumph against Kazakhstan and a 1-1 tie successful North Macedonia.

Several players will study for world work aft a successful extremity to nan play astatine nine level.

Brennan Johnson scored nan only extremity arsenic Tottenham - who besides included Ben Davies successful their squad - hit Manchester United successful nan Europa League final, while Connor Roberts, Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ampadu, Daniel James and Chris Mepham each secured promotion to nan Premier League pinch their respective clubs.

North Macedonia presently apical Group J up of Wales connected extremity difference, though apical seeds Belgium are yet to commencement their campaign.

The group winners seal a spot astatine nan World Cup while 4 remaining berths will beryllium wished by play-offs involving nan 12 group runners-up and 4 teams from past year's Nations League phase.

Wales are already good placed to unafraid a play-off spot - should they request it - having topped their Nations League group.