JOSH Sheehan has made a welcome return to the Wales squad after nearly two years.
The midfielder – who last featured for his country in September 2021 – was picked in Rob Page’s squad for an upcoming friendly against Korea, followed by a Euro 2024 qualifier in Latvia.
Sheehan has three international caps to his name, the last of which was earned against Finland, but was forced out of the reckoning after a serious knee injury picked up in an FA Cup tie at Stockport County in late 2021.
He returned to action at the start of last season but had to build his progress steadily, eventually doing enough to earn a contract extension at Bolton and putting himself back into the frame with Wales.
Wanderers have postponed their game at Shrewsbury with a few more players also due to be on international duty.
Dion Charles was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for upcoming qualifiers against Slovenia and Kazakhstan but there was no place for Eoin Toal, who made his playing return for Wanderers in the Carabao Cup defeat against Middlesbrough.
Ian Evatt was delighted to welcome the defender back into his first team plans, especially with skipper Ricardo Santos nursing an ankle injury.
“Eoin is a very good player,” he said. “His attitude and mindset is first class and we have missed him.
“It is great to have him back available in the fold.”
Ex-Bolton loanee Conor Bradley has also missed out on a place in the squad as he is currently nursing a back injury.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s return to fitness means he could be in the frame for a place in the Iceland squad, who play against Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina in qualifiers next month.
Wales Under-21s face Lithuania in a Euro qualification fixture on September 12, which is likely to mean a call-up for on-loan West Brom defender Zac Ashworth.
And Jack Iredale has been closely watched by Australia since the start of the season – with the Socceroos sending assistant manager Rene Meulensteen to watch the centre-back in action with a view to calling him into the squad for the first time for an upcoming game against Mexico.
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