Cooper amongst four uncapped players in Wales squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

In a youthful squad, Page’s side will begin their campaign looking to reach next year’s finals in Germany with a tricky trip to Split to play World Cup semi-finalists Croatia. 

Latvia will then be welcomed to the Cardiff City Stadium three days later, with Wales looking for a top-two qualification finish in a tricky group also containing Turkey and Armenia.

After narrowly missing out on Wales’ November World Cup squad, 23-year-old Cooper is rewarded with a call-up after a fine break-out season at the Swans that has produced a series of sparkling standout performances, despite the Swans struggles.

Cooper is joined by Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, ex-Everton forward Nathan Broadhead and exiting 17-year-old Fulham midfielder Luke Harris, in what is a much-changed Welsh squad after a spate of retirements of senior figures within the squad after Wales’ exit from the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

This will be the first selection without record appearance holder and top goal scorer Gareth Bale, whilst experienced duo Joe Allen and Chris Gunter, main stays of the side that qualified for the last two European Championships have also hung up their boots at international level.

In a new-look Wales lineup, there is also a recall for Millwall’s on-form forward Tom Bradshaw after a five-year absence from the squad after strong form from his club side. 

Bradshaw will join the likes of the experienced heads of Nice playmaker Aaron Ramsey, ex-Swan Ben Davies and Nottingham Forest’s Wayne Hennessey. The goalkeeper is now only three caps behind Bale’s Welsh international appearance record.

Doubts remain over the availability of Hennessey’s club teammate Brennan Johnson after a calf strain forced off the attacker in the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham on the weekend. He is however still named in Page’s squad provisionally.

Cardiff City duo Rubin Colwill, Mark Harris and fellow midfielder MK Dons Matt Smith will all miss out through various injuries.

Wales Squad to face Croatia and Latvia

Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Nico Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Ollie Cooper (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Joe Rodon (Rennes), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Sorba Thomas (Blackburn Rovers), Jordan James (Birmingham City), Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town), Wesley Burns (Ipswich Town), Aaron Ramsey (OGC Nice), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Daniel James (Fulham), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Luke Harris (Fulham), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Tom Bradshaw (Millwall).

(Lead image: Swansea City FC)