Welsh squad named for important Serbia qualifier

The Republic of Ireland are busy preparing for their World Cup Qualifier against Austria this Sunday, but Irish eyes will also be focused elsewhere in Group D when Wales take on top of the group Serbia in Belgrade later that evening.

Wales manager Chris Coleman has announced his squad for the important game.

Notable by their absence are Gareth Bale, fresh off the back of a winning Champions League campaign with Real Madrid, and Neil Taylor with both players serving suspensions.

Taylor saw red in his side’s previous World Cup Qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in March. The Aston Villa player committed the now infamous tackle on Seamus Coleman which saw the defender break his leg.

Bale received a yellow for a bad challenge on John O’Shea which meant the Wales star must sit out this crucial game with The Dragons trailing Serbia and Ireland by four points.

Burnley’s Sam Vokes is set to earn his 50^th cap for Wales with the striker making his debut almost a decade ago in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in 2008.

Coleman’s squad also includes five uncapped players: Joe Walsh (MK Dons), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Gethin Jones (Everton), Lee Evans (Wolverhamton Wanderers) and Ben Woodburn (Liverpool).

Wales versus Serbia kicks off at 7:45pm this Sunday, 11 June, with Ireland taking on Austria at 5pm.

Wales Squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Serbia

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fôn Williams.

Defenders: Ben Davies, James Chester, Joe Walsh, Chris Gunter, Jazz Richards, Ashley Williams, Tom Lockyer, Gethin Jones.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, David Edwards, Tom Lawrence, Emyr Huws, Lee Evans, Joe Ledley, Harry Wilson, Aaron Ramsey.

Forwards: Hal Robson-Kanu, Tom Bradshaw, Sam Vokes, Ben Woodburn.