Roberts named in Wales squad

Last updated : 10 May 2004 By Marc Harrington

Striker Christian Roberts has been called into the Wales squad for the internationals against Norway and Canada.

With the likes of John Hartson, Nathan Blake and Craig Bellamy missing through injury Welsh boss Mark Hughes has taken the opportunity to call a number of uncapped players into his squad.

This will be the second time that Roberts has been called into the senior squad. The last time was for a friendly in the USA after the end of last season but the City striker was only a non-playing substitute.

Hartlepool's Eifion Williams is another Second Division striker to benefit because of the injuries.

The call-ups are bittersweet though for Roberts and Williams. A win for either of their clubs in the forthcoming play-off semi-final means missing the internationals.

The squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Paul Jones (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Danny Coyne (LeicesterCity), Mark Crossley (Fulham), Martyn Margetson (Cardiff City).
Defenders: James Collins (Cardiff City), Mark Delaney (Aston Villa), Rob Edwards (Aston Villa), Andy Melville (West Ham United), Danny Gabbidon (Cardiff City), Robert Page (Sheffield United), Rhys Weston (Cardiff City), Adie Williams (Reading), Darren Barnard (Grimsby Town), Ben Thatcher (Leicester City).
Midfielders: Simon Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Carl Fletcher (Bournemouth), Gareth Roberts (Tranmere Rovers), Paul Parry (Cardiff City), Robbie Savage (Birmingham City), Jason Koumas (West Bromwich Albion), Carl Robinson (Portsmouth), Gary Speed (Newcastle United), David Vaughan (Crewe Alexandra), John Oster (Sunderland).
Strikers: Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff City), Neil Roberts (Wigan Athletic), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Chris Llewellyn (Wrexham), Christian Roberts (Bristol City), Eifion Williams (Hartlepool United).