Fishlock can inspire ‘decisions’ for Wales players

Rhian Wilkinson thinks Jess Fishlock can continue to influence Wales’ future despite the country’s greatest female footballer leaving the sport.

For the first time since Fishlock’s 19-year international career came to an end last month, Wilkinson’s players gathered this week.

Wilkinson says the 38-year-old can still inspire the squad, who are in Spain on Friday for friendlies against South Korea on Friday (18:00 GMT) and Switzerland on Tuesday, December (11:00 GMT).

As she works to expand the country’s participation in Euro 2025, the 2027 World Cup, and other goals, Wales’ head coach is hopeful that more of her players will participate in more club football.

Fishlock left his native country for the Netherlands and became the first player to play abroad in the Eredivisie while playing for the team.

Before joining Bristol Academy, Fishlock helped AZ win two league titles during the challenging times in the Netherlands.

Fishlock, of course, has had some time with Reign because of her remarkable career, which included stints in Scotland, Australia, Germany, France, and England.

Wilkinson wants to see some members of her squad be willing to make changes from Fishlock.

She continued, “Jess became Jess because of the choices she made, the places she traveled to, and the uncomfortable position she placed herself in in order to raise her own standards.”

The challenge for Wales’ women is to become regulars after winning their first major championship this year.

The team hasn’t won in 11 games since beating the Republic of Ireland to reach Euro 2025, which has not been a smooth year.

Wilkinson believes that if her players get more game time with their clubs, Wales’ chances of moving up to the top table will significantly improve as the focus shifts to World Cup qualifying, which kicks off in March.

After the European Championship, a review conducted by the Football Association of Wales revealed the issue of their players not receiving enough football. Wilkinson’s side were well beaten in their three games.

Before the tournament, Wilkinson claimed that “65% of my team at the Euros did not play regular minutes for their club.”

She continued, “I have been vocal about it and that we have to keep pushing and driving.”

“It’s a part of my job right now, and it’s very clear, to make sure I rattle some cages in terms of]players who are] currently sitting on the bench. You must make difficult decisions, especially when you are in your prime.

Most of Wales’ players currently play club football in England, but Wilkinson warns that some players may need to consider playing even further afield.

We tend to fall into England’s path because it’s not easy to leave, but sometimes you have to be an Angharad James or a Carrie Jones who lives in the US, she said.

Low a percentage of Wales players receive regular football, at least in top-level leagues.

Due to Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s injury, goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel has made some welcome appearances for Manchester United in recent weeks.

However, when USA international Tullis-Joyce recovers from injury, she is likely to be back on the bench.

Olivia Clark, Middleton-Patel’s main rival for the Wales goalkeeping shirt, has been a backup option since joining Leicester City from FC Twente in January.

Gemma Evans and Lily Woodham are both playing defensively for a Liverpool side that is bottom of the table, but both of them play regularly in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

Hayley Ladd, however, only occasionally appears for Everton, while young players like Mayzee Davies, Teagan Scarlett, and Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Teagan Scarlett (Arsenal), who are all recovering from a long-term knee injury, are all making efforts to establish themselves at club level.

Esther Morgan and Ella Powell have both played regular football for Bristol City, even though it is in the second-tier WSL2, but Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Annie Wilding (Portsmouth), and Annie Wilding (Portsmouth).

Wales midfielder Ceri Holland is a regular at Liverpool, and West Ham’s Ffion Morgan is getting WSL football while Jones has impressed at Swedish top-flight side IFK Norrkoping.

Despite being “fully a senior team member” for her country, according to Wilkinson, the situation for Wales is similar in terms of attack. Hannah Cain is a regular WSL player at Leicester, but Mared Griffiths, 18, is on the fringes at Manchester United.

Wilkinson acknowledges that the issue of Wales’ players not receiving enough exposure to elite club football is “not going to be a quick fix.”

She contends that her players’ insufficient playing time cannot “be a decider of minutes with Wales.”

“We are not a country yet where you can say well: You are not playing for Wales,” Wilkinson said.

“But I have a responsibility to make sure it is mentioned, challenged, and that the players are always pushing themselves to get on the pitch.”