Davies back in Wales squad but Clark misses out

Manchester City teenager Mayzee Davies is back in the Wales squad for this month's World Cup qualifying double-header against Albania, but there is no place for injured goalkeeper Olivia Clark.

Defender Davies has not appeared for her country since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on Wales duty 11 months ago.

The 19-year-old has been recalled after returning to action for Manchester City's under-21 side this week, though Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson says she is unlikely to play in this camp as a result of her long lay-off.

"We don't want to put that pressure on at this point but to have her back with the squad I think is really important," Wikinson said.

Wales will have to cope without Leicester City's Clark, who has not played since picking up a lower leg injury while training with her country last month.

In the absence of 35-cap Clark, Wilkinson has handed a first senior call-up to Llantrisant-born Lucy Farrell-Shrouder, 22, who is on loan at Stoke City from Burnley.

Wales face Albania at Wrexham's Stoke Cae Ras on Tuesday, 14 April (19:15 BST) before travelling for the return fixture at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan four days later (17:00 BST).

Wilkinson says Clark's injury is not serious, though it does leave Manchester United's Safia Middleton-Patel as the only goalkeeper in this Wales squad who has played a senior international.

Wilkinson has regularly rotated her two senior keepers, but says eight-cap Middleton-Patel will feature in both Albania games.

"She will come in as our number one and that's an opportunity for her," Wilkinson said.

"Liv's not here and that does not mean she's out sight out of mind. She is absolutely still in there in the running [to be first-choice keeper], but I am looking forward to seeing what Saf can do for us.

Farrell-Shrouder, Poppy Soper, Annie Wilding and Phoebie Poole are the four uncapped players in the squad, while Gwen Zimmerman, Olivia Francis and Mary McAteer are not included having been involved in the previous camp.

Wilkinson's side began their bid to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup with an away draw against the Czech Republic – who are expected to be their main rivals to top Group B1 – and a comprehensive home victory over Montenegro.

With no automatic route to the tournament available to League B sides, Wales hope to finish first in the group because that would secure a more favourable play-off route to the tournament, which is being staged in Brazil.

Davies had been on course to feature at Euro 2025 until she suffered the ACL injury during Wales' Nations League defeat in Denmark last May.

The Bodelwyddan-born player was winning her sixth cap against the Danes having been given her senior debut by Wilkinson in Kosovo two years ago.

Davies first joined Manchester City at the age of 10, then returned to the club in 2024 after a brief spell at Manchester United.

She was named Wales' player of the match having made her first international start in the defeat in Italy 14 months ago.

After that game, Wilkinson suggested Davies had the quality to win more than a century of caps for her country.

Wilkinson did not completely rule out the idea of Davies featuring in one of the two Albania games, saying: "I won't say never because we haven't had our eyes across her, but she is coming in as a training player and not as part of the 23.

"She's been working hard. We've been in touch with her, just sort of making sure she's feeling seen during a long process.

"I think she's played some minutes for some of the younger [Manchester City] squads but she's now starting to be more full-time with the senior team and back to full training."

Lucy Farrell-Shrouder (Stoke City - on loan from Burnley), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Rugby Borough), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Charlie Estcourt (Portsmouth), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Esther Morgan (Bristol City), Lily Woodham (Liverpool), Hayley Ladd (Crystal Palace), Sophie Ingle (Bristol City), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Tianna Teisar (Plymouth Argyle - on loan from Bristol City), Annie Wilding (Portsmouth), Ffion Morgan (West Ham United), Phoebie Poole (Plymouth Argyle), Mared Griffiths (Sunderland - on loan from Manchester United), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace).