Price wins senior Wales call-up

WALES v AUSTRIA World Cup qualifying Group 6 | 26 March 1500 GMT | Millennium Stadium Thoughts from Wales camp Austria team news

Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price has been called into the Wales squad for the World Cup qualifying double header against Austria this month.

Price, 20, has caught the eye for Wales Under-21s and the retirement of Mark Crossley has created an opportunity.

There is no Robbie Savage, after the Blackburn midfielder announced his international retirement on Monday.

Cardiff defender James Collins is back after missing last month's 2-0 friendly win over Hungary to lead the Under-21s.

Rather than playing a friendly, Wales boss John Toshack thought Collins would benefit more leading the Under-21 side in their Uefa Championship qualifier against Germany the night before.

Unfortunately, the 21-year-old took little away from the exercise apart from a bruised foot which forced him to leave the field after just half an hour.

Price's first-team opportunities at Portman Road have been limited to nine appearances this season by the form of Kelvin Davis.

But the Bournemouth-born player, who qualifies for Wales through his father, has enjoyed extra first-team football during a loan spell at Cambridge.

Wales realistically have no chance of qualifying from Group Six for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

But the matches against Austria in Cardiff on 26 March and in Vienna four days later are important as new coach Toshack begins rebuilding the Wales side in earnest.

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is named in the squad and should be fit, despite missing his side's 4-0 FA Cup win over Southampton on Saturday with a facial injury.

And John Hartson is available again to spearhead the Wales attack after he, like Giggs, was a late withdrawal from the team to play Hungary.

David Partridge, Gavin Williams, Danny Collins and Sam Ricketts get another chance after impressive debuts last month against Hungary.

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Wales squad to play Austria in World Cup Group Six qualifiers on 26 March in Cardiff and 30 March in Vienna:
Coyne (Burnley), Jones (Wolves), Price (Ipswich), Delaney (Aston Villa), J Collins (Cardiff), D Collins (Sunderland), Page (Cardiff), Gabbidon (Cardiff), Edwards (Wolves), Partridge (Motherwell), Ricketts (Swansea), Roberts (Tranmere), Davies (Tottenham), Fletcher (West Ham), Williams (West Ham), Koumas (West Brom), Earnshaw (West Brom), Giggs (Man Utd), Robinson (Sunderland), Bellamy (Newcastle - on loan to Celtic), Hartson (Celtic).

Wales Under-21 squad to play Austria in Uefa Championship Group Six qualifiers on 25 March in Merthyr Tydfil and on 29 March in Neuseidl Am See:
Hennessey (Wolves), Worgan (Rushden), Anthony (Cardiff), A Davies (Yeovil), M.Jones (Wrexham), Cotterill (Bristol C), Beevers (Boston), Duffy (Portsmouth), Gilbert (Plymouth), Morgan (Wrexham), Nyatanga (Derby), Ledley (Cardiff), Pipe (Notts Co), Birchall (Arsenal), Caliste (Man Utd), Crofts (Gillingham), C.Davies (Oxford), Vaughan (Crewe).

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