New Wales boss hands first full call-ups to Reading and Liverpool pair

New Wales head coach Gemma Grainger has handed first full call-ups to Reading defender Bethan Roberts and Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland.

Wales are set to play two international friendly fixtures in Cardiff next month against Canada on Friday 9 April and Denmark on Tuesday 13 April.

The Welsh Football Association, the FAW, announced Grainger’s squad this morning with Roberts and Holland making the cut for the very first time. Liverpool midfielder Holland was drafted into February’s camp but missed out on the initial selection.

Reading defender Roberts has made just three senior club appearances to date. She made her debut for The Royals in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City in December before later featuring in fixtures against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. The player has been with the Berkshire club since the age of nine.

Midfielder Holland joined Liverpool in January following a period combining football with her studies in the United States. She has proven to be one of the best transfer window signings in the FA Women’s Championship, scoring an impressive three goals in five league games.

Wales’ fixture against Canada will be played at the Leckwith Stadium while the Denmark game will be staged at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales Squad

Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Olivia Clark (Coventry United), Poppy Soper (Plymouth Argyle), Rhiannon Roberts (Liverpool), Gemma Evans (Bristol City), Maria Francis-Jones (Cardiff City Ladies), Charlie Estcourt (London Bees), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Josie Green (Tottenham Hotspur), Elise Hughes (Blackburn Rovers – On loan from Everton), Anna Filbey (Celtic – On loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Angharad James (Reading), Jess Fishlock (Reading – On loan from OL Reign), Carrie Jones (Manchester United), Kayleigh Green (Brighton & Hove Albion), Natasha Harding (Reading), Rachel Rowe (Reading), Helen Ward (Watford), Lily Woodham (Reading), Georgia Walters (Blackburn Rovers), Ffion Morgan (Crystal Palace), Esther Morgan (Tottenham Hotspur), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Bethan Roberts (Reading), Kylie Nolan (Cardiff City Ladies)

Daniel Pentland

I am the editor and owner of FAWSL Full-Time magazine. I have been reporting on men’s and women’s football at various levels since summer 2015. Some of the events which I have reported from include the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championship, 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, SSE Women’s FA Cup final, Emirates FA Cup final, UEFA Europa League, English Football League and various international matches.

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