Allen included in Wales squad
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen will play against Scotland and Croatia in WP qualifiers.
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen was on Wednesday named in the Wales squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia, despite requiring surgery on a shoulder injury.
With Liverpool yet to announce when Allen will go under the knife, Wales manager Chris Coleman included the 22-year-old in his squad for the Group A double-header.
Coleman also called up in-form Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale, who has scored 11 goals in his last 10 games, but Celtic full-back Adam Matthews misses out with a hamstring injury.
Wales tackle Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow on March 22 before entertaining Croatia at Swansea s Liberty Stadium on March 26.
Wales sit second-bottom in Group A after four matches, seven points below the qualifying berths.
Wales squad to face Scotland and Croatia in 2014 World Cup qualifying matches later this month:
Goalkeepers: Glyn Myhill (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Lewis Price (Crystal Palace/ENG), Owain Fon Williams (Tranmere Rovers/ENG)
Defenders: Ben Davies (Swansea City), James Collins (West Ham United/ENG), Chris Gunter (Reading/ENG), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town/ENG), Ashley Richards (Swansea City), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers/ENG), Ashley Williams (Swansea City).
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Liverpool/ENG), Jack Collison (West Ham United/ENG), Andy King (Leicester City/ENG), Joe Ledley (Celtic/SCO), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal/ENG), David Vaughan (Sunderland/ENG), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace/ENG).
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City), Simon Church (Reading/ENG), Steve Morison (Leeds United/ENG), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading/ENG), Sam Vokes (Burnley/ENG).
