THE Urdd National Eisteddfod near Meifod was the backdrop as Wales manager Rob Page announced the squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia.
Page was among the thousands to descend on the Powys village for the annual celebration of Welsh language and culture.
Liverpool striker Lewis Koumas received his first senior Wales call alongside fellow uncapped youngsters Charlie Crew and Fin Stevens.
But veteran goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and skipper Aaron Ramsey are among a list of absentees that also include David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Neco Williams.
“We’ve got to look to the future,” said Wales manager Rob Page, selecting his first squad since the disappointment of missing out on Euro 2024 after losing a penalty shoot-out to Poland in March.
“The games that we’ve got give us an opportunity to develop some of these younger players and expose them to the environment.
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“They’ll get a taste of it so come September when we play the Nations League, and come next year when the World Cup qualifiers start, they’ve already had a taste of that experience.”
Koumas’ introduction is one that will excite Wales fans following his breakthrough at Anfield during the second half of last season.
The 18-year-old forward, son of former Wales midfielder Jason, scored on his Liverpool debut against Southampton in the FA Cup and was on the bench at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea.
Koumas also marked his Wales Under-21 debut in March with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Lithuania.
Wales play Gibraltar at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal on June 6 before meeting Slovakia in Trnava three days later.
Tottenham defender Ben Davies is again set to captain Wales in the absence of midfielder Ramsey, who suffered an injury-plagued season after returning to Cardiff last summer.
Wales squad to face Gibraltar and Slovakia:
- D Ward (Leicester)
- A Davies (Sheff Utd)
- T King (Wolves)
- C Roberts (Leeds, on loan from Burnley)
- F Stevens (Oxford, on loan from Brentford)
- J Rodon (Leeds, on loan from Tottenham)
- C Mepham (Bournemouth)
- B Cabango (Swansea)
- J Low (Wycombe)
- B Davies (Tottenham)
- J DaSilva (Coventry)
- E Ampadu (Leeds)
- J James (Birmingham)
- J Sheehan (Bolton)
- C Savage (Reading)
- C Crew (Leeds)
- W Burns (Ipswich)
- B Johnson (Tottenham)
- R Colwill (Cardiff)
- D James (Leeds)
- R Matondo (Rangers)
- N Broadhead (Ipswich)
- K Moore (Ipswich, on loan from Bournemouth)
- L Cullen (Swansea)
- L Koumas (Liverpool)
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