Norwich City striker Marley Watkins has been forced to withdraw from the Wales international squad due to injury and he will be replaced by Barnsley striker Ryan Hedges, according to Sky Sports.
Twitter: Breaking: @NorwichCityFC striker @MarleyWatkins out of @FAWales squad due to injury. @bfc_official’s @RyanHedges95… https://t.co/IO3lxsD4Sl (@SkySportsNews
Watkins, whose injury has not been specified, had been on the bench for Wales’ last three matches, but will now miss the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland.
Twitter: Gutted to have to pull out of the Wales squad with an injury. All the best to the boys for the next 2 games ?… https://t.co/qaphl3jjvk (@MarleyWatkins)
22-year-old Hedges is called up for the first time having previously been capped at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
The 26-year-old Norwich attacker was also sent off for a bad tackle towards the end of the Canaries’ 2-1 EFL Championship win at Reading on Saturday, after coming on as a substitute for the injured Josh Murphy at the Madejski Stadium.
Coincidentally, the lunge was on fellow Wales team-mate Chris Gunter, who he later apologised to.
Twitter: Sorry about today @Chrisgunter16 – a true Welsh legend ? #TogetherStronger (@MarleyWatkins)
Wales currently sit second in their qualifying group and are behind the leaders Serbia by four points. However, finishing second should earn Chris Coleman’s side one of eight play-off places as they bid for a spot at Russia 2018.
