Getting Brooks and Woodburn is a feather in our cap, says Coleman

Chris Coleman, the Wales manager, admitted the call-up of David Brooks to his senior squad would cause consternation to England.

Since May, Brooks has pulled out of the Wales Under-20s, helped England win the Toulon Tournament and been named his team’s player of the competition. After switching allegiance back to Wales, the Sheffield United midfielder has been selected for the country’s Under-21s and now the senior team for the World Cup qualifiers with Georgia and Republic of Ireland.

It means Brooks, 20, is set follow Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn by committing to Wales despite being eligible for England.

Coleman said: “The connection has always been there. David has shown great promise for some years. Luckily for us, he’s chosen Wales and I’m sure it will cause one or two ripples on the other side of the bridge. It caused a stir with Ben, although he’s been with us for some years. We’re not the only country that have players with dual nationality. It’s a feather in our cap that these players are coming to us.

“Brooksy is in our framework and structure and he’s earned his chance to come into the first team,” he added.

Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu, 17, is also in the squad. Fellow defenders James Collins and Jazz Richards are out injured, but Coleman has Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Ashley Williams available.

Coleman, meanwhile, has praised Chelsea manager Antonio Conte after he welcomed Ampadu’s previous inclusion in the Wales squad. Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has not been so complimentary about Woodburn’s involvement, despite the 17-year-old scoring a sublime winner against Austria and also playing a major role off the bench in the victory over Moldova.

“It helps if you have played international football and understand what it is all about,” Coleman said. “When I read Conte’s comments, I felt that he put it all really well and it is true. If you are good enough as a young player, then why shouldn’t you be involved?

“International football is a choice, you either want to do it or you don’t. Jurgen was probably looking at Ben and thinking he wasn’t ready. He was honest in his assessment, but my point was he has been in the Liverpool squad and scored on his debut at Anfield. I look at him like I do at Ethan.

“All the signs with Ben were good and certainly in his first few caps with us I think he’s shown we were right in assuming he was ready to come and play a part for us.”

Wales squad