Davies returns as Wales name squad for Ghana and Romania friendlies

Ben Davies’ return gave Wales a badly needed lift, with Craig Bellamy naming the captain in a 26-player squad for friendlies against Ghana and Romania as the rebuilding after March’s play-off disappointment continued.

Davies broke his ankle while playing for Tottenham in January and underwent surgery on a fractured left ankle. His inclusion marked a major step back from the doubt that followed the injury, and it also took him to 100 Wales caps, placing him among the country’s most capped players. For Bellamy, that matters as much for authority as ability. The Wales head coach said Davies’ example in training and his leadership away from the pitch were hugely important, and that having him around made his messages easier to deliver on the field.

Connor Roberts also returned to the squad for the first time in a year, offering Wales another senior defender at a time when stability has been in short supply. The Burnley right-back did not play for his club this season after suffering an Achilles injury in pre-season, then hamstring problems and dead-leg complications. His last competitive Wales appearance came against Belgium in a World Cup qualifier nearly 12 months ago. Bellamy described Roberts as tactically aware and effectively a “coach on the pitch”, a label that points to how much Wales have missed his organisation on the right side.

The pair were absent when Wales lost their World Cup play-off semi-final to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, and their return changes the tone of the squad. Ben Davies should help anchor the defensive spine and bring composure to a young group, while Roberts gives Bellamy a more natural balance at full-back and another voice capable of setting the line. That looks less like a gamble than a careful reintroduction, with Wales trying to judge how much mileage they can get from two senior defenders before the stakes rise again.

The squad also included returns for Chris Mepham, Kai Andrews, Isaak Davies and Kieffer Moore, while Jordan James, Liam Cullen and Mark Harris missed out with end-of-season knocks. Adam Davies, Rubin Colwill and Rabbi Matondo were also absent, leaving Bellamy with a reshaped group for the trip to Cardiff City Stadium on June 2, 2026 to face Ghana and then to Bucharest four days later for Romania.

Those June fixtures sit ahead of a far sterner autumn, when Wales begin their UEFA Nations League League A campaign against Portugal, Norway and Denmark. In that context, the comeback of Ben Davies and Connor Roberts looks less like a routine selection call and more like a test of whether Wales’ most experienced defenders are ready to hold the line when the schedule hardens.