Davies back in Wales squad but Clark misses out
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). Rhian Wilkinson has rotated her goalkeepers, but Safia Middleton-Patel looks likely to start both Albania games with Olivia Clark out 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.