Wales chief airs frustration at lack of game time for Crystal Palace keeper

BY MAX HALL

Wales caretaker manager Rob Page has spoken of his frustration at the lack of game time being afforded his international goalkeepers, including Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey.

“You always want your players playing,” said Page, announcing the Wales squad to play in two World Cup qualifiers and a friendly next week, “but it’s international football so we can’t influence that, that’s down to the managers at their clubs.

“Wayne Hennessey has come back from injury and he’s been playing under-23s football, so we’ll have a fit Wayne back,” said Page, who is taking the team in manager Ryan Giggs’ continued absence. Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assault in early November and last month had his bail extended until May 1. He has been on leave from his duties as Welsh manager since November.

Discussing the return of Palace’s Hennessey to the squad, Page added: “You want your experienced, big players involved in the camp. For Wayne, he’s had a frustrating time out with injury but now he’s back to full training, he’s played some under-23 games – albeit it’s not first team level – but any minutes he can get are a bonus so we’ll keep him in the camp and have a look at him.

“We’ll make that call when we see them in training and we’ll make our decisions based on that.”

Hennessey’s only Palace appearance during an injury-hit season was in the EFL Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at Championship side Bournemouth in September but he made five appearances for his country before being forced off with a thigh injury in a Nations League match in Bulgaria in October.

Caretaker boss Page also called up Charlton full-back, and Wales’ most capped player, Chris Gunter and Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu, who is on loan at Sheffield United.