 Wales are desperate for defenders with Premiership experience |
The Football Association of Wales has received clearance from Fifa that Ben Thatcher is eligible to play for them. The Leicester defender, who won four England Under-21 caps, qualifies for Wales through a Welsh grandmother.
And the 28-year-old has taken advantage of Fifa's change in rules that allows players capped at U21 level to switch international allegiance.
Thatcher could end up playing for Wales against England in the World Cup qualifier on 9 October.
He was not eligible to play in Wales' recent win over Scotland as Fifa could not ratify the move in time.
"Ben is committed to this new change in his career," said Wales manager Mark Hughes recently.
He added: "His agent contacted me to make me aware of his qualification, and I am delighted to have him on board, we need as many Premiership players as possible.
"I have no problems with what people call a tradesman's entry to our squad.
"I have played with the likes of John Robinson and Eric Young - neither of whom were Welsh - but you could not have found more committed players."
MMIX
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