Wales boss Wilkinson to continue rotating keepers

Rhian Wilkinson intends to continue rotating her goalkeepers during Wales’ Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wales kick off their bid to reach the 2027 World Cup in Brazil when they face the Czech Republic at the City Stadium in Uherske Hradiste on Tuesday.

Wilkinson has regularly switched between her two frontline keepers, Olivia Clark and Safia Middleton-Patel, during her time as Wales head coach and says that approach will continue.

“Both of them have performed for Wales but I don’t feel either of them really grabbed the jersey yet and so I try not to make it [so] that it’s a combative environment,” Wilkinson said.

“They know before they come in which games they’re going to be playing, so I try to tell them that you have just got to perform in your game.

Leicester City’s Clark, 24, has had more experience at both club and international level than 21-year-old Middleton-Patel, of Manchester United.

Rugby Borough’s Poppy Soper is also in the current Wales squad, but Clark and Middleton-Patel have shared goalkeeping duties since Wilkinson took charge two years ago.

At last summer’s European Championship, Clark started two of Wales’ games with Middleton-Patel playing in the other.

It is Clark who has had more opportunities to impress overall, with the former FC Twente player starting 18 of Wilkinson’s 24 games as Wales boss and Middleton-Patel beginning in the other six.

The frustration for Wilkinson is that neither player is a regular at club level.

“Liv’s got a few starts, Saf’s got a few starts. It’s a problem I know with the men’s team as well,” she added.

“Both of them have had moments with their clubs, but we do not have solid starters.”