Wales face Northern Ireland on Thursday in the first of two friendlies this month as manager Gemma Grainger bids to grow depth in her squad before the inaugural Women's Nations League later this year.
Wales host Northern Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, April 6 (7.15pm kick-off, live on BBC Two Wales and iPlayer), before heading to face Portugal away on Tuesday, April 11 (5.30pm kick-off).
Grainger will be hoping to build on an unbeaten Pinatar Cup campaign in February which saw Wales beat the Philippines and draw with Scotland and Iceland.
The friendlies will be the first fixtures since the retirement of Wales' record goal-scorer Helen Ward, who is set for a special farewell in the Welsh capital. You can read her full retirement interview with WalesOnline here.
Looking ahead, new coaches and a fresh squad mean Grainger is optimistic about the games ahead, with her ultimate aim qualifying for the 2025 Women's Euros, having come within a whisker of reaching this year's World Cup.
“It will be a test to see where we are at," Grainger said. "It gives the players a chance to experience the level we want to be at. Looking back at Pinatar, we were playing teams like the Philippines who are in the World Cup and that was great to experience.”
Ellen Jones’ selection has been a talking point since the squad was announced, with the uncapped forward having switched allegiance from England age-grade to Wales seniors.
“I know exactly the type of player that Ellen is,” said former FA coach Grainger. “I’ve taken her to a Euros with England [under-17s] so know what she’s like in those situations. She can play both out wide and in the middle. It’s the type of ability we want to bring into the camp.”
At the start of a new major tournament cycle, Grainger has also appointed Jon Grey from Swansea City to be Wales Women's first full-time assistant coach, with Lee Skyrme also coming on board from Southampton B to join her backroom staff.
Wales Women's last game in Cardiff last October saw a record 15,200 fans turn up for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Jess Fishlock's superb volley in extra time proving to be the game's decisive moment after four Welsh goals were ruled offside. Wales, of course, were defeated by Switzerland 2-1 in the play-off final a few days later, when the Swiss hosts hit back with a goal in the dying seconds of extra time.
Now, off the back of a record domestic crowd for Welsh women’s football at Wrexham which saw 9,511 turn out to watch them lift the Adran North league trophy at The Racecourse on March 26, Grainger is hoping such support will be on display for the national team too.
“It was amazing to see that crowd at Wrexham," Grainger said. "Last time we were in Cardiff we played Bosnia which was an incredible time for me and the squad. Northern Ireland is the day before the Easter weekend in the school holidays, so I want to see as many people there as possible.”
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