Mayzee Davies is back in the Wales squad – Mared Griffiths and Elise Hughes retain their places
WREXHAM, WALES - 17 FEBRUARY 2025: Wales' Mayzee Davies during a training session at Colliers Park, in Wrexham on the 17th February 2025. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Flint teenager Mayzee Davies is back in the Wales squad for this month’s World Cup qualifying double-header against Albania.
Defender Davies has not appeared for her country since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on Wales duty almost a year ago.
The 19-year-old has been recalled after returning to action for Manchester City’s under-21 side this week, though Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson reports she is unlikely to play in this camp as a result of her long lay-off.
Wales face Albania at Wrexham’s STōK Cae Ras on Tuesday, 14 April before travelling for the return fixture at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan four days later.
Wilkinson’s side began their bid to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup with an away draw against the Czech Republic – 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 former Flint High School pupil 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.
Wilkinson did not completely rule out the idea of Davies featuring in one of the two Albania games, but said it would be an unlikely occurrence, stressing the importance of her meeting up with the squad.
Other North Walians in the squad include Manchester Unnited striker Mared Griffiths, of Trawsfynydd, currently on loan at Sunderland, as well as experienced forward Elise Hughes from Hawarden, who plays for Crystal Palace.
Griffiths scored twice on her competitive debut for Cymru last month in a .6-1 hammering of Montenegro at Parc-y-Scarlets, Llanelli.
Having made five appearances as a substitute, Griffiths was handed her first start by Wilkinson and made the most of it in an outstanding performance up front alongside the more experienced Hannah Cain.
Hughes has earned 31 caps for Cymru, scoring three times.
Wales squad
Lucy Farrell-Shrouder (Stoke City – on loan from Burnley), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Rugby Borough), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Charlie Estcourt (Portsmouth), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Esther Morgan (Bristol City), Lily Woodham (Liverpool), Hayley Ladd (Crystal Palace), Sophie Ingle (Bristol City), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Tianna Teisar (Plymouth Argyle – on loan from Bristol City), Annie Wilding (Portsmouth), Ffion Morgan (West Ham United), Phoebe Poole (Plymouth Argyle), Mared Griffiths (Sunderland – on loan from Manchester United), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace).