Cardiff City defender James Connolly has earned his first call-up to Wales' under-21s squad but there is no room for promising Bluebirds forward Isaak Davies in the 21-man squad.
Wales will face Netherlands on June 11 and Gibraltar on June 14, with both matches taking place at Parc y Scarlets, in their final Euro 2023 qualifier matches and the Bluebirds will have two representatives in the squad in Connolly and midfielder Eli King.
Connolly's citizenship is stated as English, however he has long been on Wales' radar owing to his Welsh parentage. Receiving his first call-up to Paul Bodin's Wales Under-21s side is no doubt the icing on the cake after what has been a stellar breakthrough season for the 20-year-old centre-back.
READ MORE : Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton admits he wants James Connolly back next season
After starring for Steve Morison's Cardiff Under-23s side at the beginning of last season, during which time he donned the captain's armband, he earned his shot at a loan move away in January, joining Bristol Rovers in anticipation of getting his first minutes of senior football under his belt.
However Joey Barton played him for the full 90 minutes in 24 consecutive games as Rovers shot out of nowhere to earn the unlikeliest of promotions to League One, with Connolly one of the standout performers at the heart of the Gas defence.
Connolly's contract at Cardiff is just a month away from expiration. However, WalesOnline understands the club have tabled an offer to the young defender, yet a deal has not been agreed as things stand.
Cardiff do, though, have the option to trigger a year's extension, which is likely if the player does not put pen to paper on the fresh terms offered. Morison wants to assess the defender in pre-season before making any decisions on what happens next term.
Meanwhile, the omission of Davies is something of a shock. The 20-year-old forward was one of the more exciting prospects to emerge from a miserable campaign for the Bluebirds. Indeed, there was even talk of him potentially forcing his way into Rob Page's senior squad for March's camp, however that was not to be.
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Davies did struggle with a hamstring injury towards the back end of the season, though, missing three games before coming on for a 15-minute cameo in the final fixture against Derby County at Pride Park. Whether that has played any part in selection only time will tell.
Connolly is one of six uncapped U21 players to be named in the squad by Bodin, who also welcomes back Dan Barden. The Norwich City goalkeeper returns to the squad following successful treatment for testicular cancer, having last played for the U21s in a 4-0 win against Bulgaria in September 2021.
Both matches will be broadcast online on the Sgorio Facebook and YouTube channels.
Wales U21: Dan BARDEN (Norwich City), Lewis WEBB (Shelbourne- On loan from Swansea City), Nathan SHEPPERD (Dundalk), Luca HOOLE (Bristol Rovers), Owen BECK (Liverpool), Fin STEVENS (Brentford), Ryan ASTLEY (Everton), Zac ASHWORTH (West Bromwich Albion), Terry TAYLOR (Burton Albion), Oli HAMMOND (Nottingham Forest), Elliot THORPE (Luton Town), Tom SPARROW (Stoke City), Eli KING (Cardiff City), Ed TURNS (Brighton & Hove Albion), James CONNOLLY (Cardiff City), Sam PEARSON (Bristol City), Joe ADAMS (Dundalk), Rhys HUGHES (Everton), Jack VALE (Blackburn Rovers), Luke JEPHCOTT (Plymouth Argyle), Pat JONES (Huddersfield Town).
