Nottingham Forest’s Wayne Hennessey could lose the battle for a place in the Wales starting XI in the World Cup.
The goalkeeper was named in Wales’ 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar. But he faces a battle to be included in Rob Page’s starting line up for the nation’s Group B opener against USA on Monday.
Hennessey has been preferred to Leicester City’s Danny Ward in the last two international games against Poland and Belgium following his performance in the World Cup play-offs against Ukraine. The 35-year-old completed a move to Forest in the summer, where he has been behind Dean Henderson in the pecking order.
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Ward’s promotion to Leicester’s number one means that the goalkeeper is pushing for his place as Wales’ number one, after an impressive Euros campaign. It means that there is uncertainty as to who will start the game against USA.
According to fans on WalesOnline , Ward has just edged Hennessey in being named in the fans’ starting XI for the game. The difference probably being the goalkeeper’s recent good form at the King Power Stadium, in which he has six clean sheets in his last eight Premier League games.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Hennessey has outlined that the competition can only be a good thing for the team. But he is hopeful that his performance against Ukraine will make the difference.
“Competition, it’s healthy and we’re all doing well at the moment, so yeah. It’s obviously a nice choice to have for Rob Page,” he said.
“Like I said, it was my best performance in a Wales shirt for me, 100 percent. And they’re the games you’ll never forget in your whole career.”
Ward agrees with his international teammate on the competition, but has admitted that his confidence is high following his recent Premier League form. “The selection thing, that’s something out of our hands as players,” he told Sky Sports.
“That’s up to the manager and coaching staff to make that decision. Regardless of who plays, if that’s myself, Wayne, Adam Davies, Tony Roberts if he decides to put the gloves on, we’re all there to back each other.
“Personally, I’m feeling in a good way, a bit of a turnaround from the start of the season I must say. Confidence is high, so I’m in a good place.”
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