Olivia Clark (left) will rival Safia Middleton-Patel for a starting place in goal, while Laura Hughes (right) will hope to feature alongside key player Ceri Holland (centre) [FAW]
Ceri Holland, Olivia Clark and Laura Hughes have been named in the Wales squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and the Czech Republic, but Hayley Ladd misses out through injury.
The influential Holland withdrew from Wales’ April double-header against Albania but is back having returned to action with Liverpool in the closing weeks of the Women’s Super League season.
Leicester City goalkeeper Clark also featured in the closing stages of the 2025-26 league campaign after recovering from an ankle problem suffered while on Wales duty in February.
Melbourne City midfielder Hughes is in the Wales squad for just the second time having switched allegiances from Australia last December.
Hughes, 24, is included having missed Wales’ previous two camps through injury, but head coach Rhian Wilkinson will be without the experience of Ladd for the decisive games in Group B1.
Wales face Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday, 5 June before taking on the Czech Republic at the Cardiff City Stadium four days later.
Wales are currently second in the group, behind the Czechs on goal difference, having taken 10 points from their four qualifiers so far.
Victories in the final two games would mean Wales finish top and therefore secure a more favourable draw in the play-offs later this year.
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Uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Elena Cole, 19, is called up to the senior squad after impressing for Wales Under-19s, as is 18-year-old Manchester United defender Scarlett Hill, who has two caps.
Like Holland, Newcastle United defender Lois Joel is involved after withdrawing from the Albania games through injury.
Attacking midfielder Carrie Jones will reach 50 Wales caps should she play in both June fixtures.
If Wales and the Czech Republic finish level on points, the winners of the group would be decided by head-to-head records.
If they were still level, goal difference would be the next deciding factor, followed by goals scored, away goals scored, number of wins in the group and number of away wins in the group.
If there was still no winner, the final positions in the group would be decided by disciplinary points and then overall phase rankings in the 2025 Women’s Nations League.
Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Rugby Borough), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Charlie Estcourt (Portsmouth), Gemma Evans (unattached), Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Esther Morgan (Bristol City), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Lily Woodham (Liverpool), Laura Hughes (Melbourne City), Sophie Ingle (Bristol City), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Elena Cole (AFC Bournemouth), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrkoping), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Ffion Morgan (West Ham United), Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest), Tianna Teisar (unattached), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Phoebie Poole (Plymouth Argyle).
