By David Williams
Ryan Giggs has made two changes to his Wales team to face Bulgaria in Cardiff today, with David Brooks and Matt Smith coming into the side.
The Wales boss has opted to rest Jonny Williams and Dylan Levitt from the team that won 1-0 in Finland on Thursday, with Bournemouth star Brooks making his first appearance since he played away against Hungary in June 2019.
Brooks, who missed most of last season through surgery, has linked back up with Wales for the first time in 15 months after recovering from an ankle injury, which ruled him out of the opening Nations league fixture.
The 23-year-old returned when the Premier League restarted in June, and although he was unable to help Bournemouth survive relegation, he has impressed during two years on the south coast and has been linked with a summer move to Giggs’ former side Manchester United among other clubs.
“I’m pleased to see him because he’s a quality player and brings some freshness to the squad,” Giggs said of Brooks.
“He’s trained a lot and played a lot toward the end of last season. He’s fit. He’s played some pre-season games for Bournemouth.
“He looks sharp, really good and back to where he was 15 months ago. A fit David Brooks is a quality player. We want to see him taking players on and gliding past players.”
Brooks enjoyed a breakout season at Bournemouth in 2018/19 – making 30 Premier League appearances and scoring seven goals – earning himself a nomination for PFA Young Player of the Year alongside Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Marcus Rashford.
He arrived at the Vitality Stadium from Sheffield United in July 2018 for a fee believed to be £11.5m.
Bournemouth’s board have made it clear they want to keep him at the Vitality Stadium this summer, but appreciate they may receive an offer they find difficult to turn down.
Giggs believes Ethan Ampadu has a big call to make over his Chelsea career as he stressed the importance of minutes on the pitch.
The versatile Ampadu was outstanding in central defence in Helsinki but the 19-year-old, who also operates as effectively as a holding midfielder, has had to endure frustration at club level with limited game-time at Chelsea and RB Leipzig, the Bundesliga club where he spent last season on loan.
Ampadu’s path to the Chelsea first-team, at least in a defensive capacity, has been further blocked by the addition of Brazil international Thiago Silva from Paris St Germain.
“Thiago is a quality centre-half and you can only learn from someone like that,” said Giggs.
2 – Wales have won two of their last three matches against Bulgaria in all competitions (L1), winning last time out in October 2011 in a Euro 2012 qualifier – Gareth Bale scored the only goal that day. Fairway. pic.twitter.com/z3w5k71ns1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 6, 2020
“I want all the players to be playing regularly, but that sometimes isn’t the case. It’s that balance over whether they’re at a top club and surrounded by top players and improving every day, but ultimately you need minutes on the pitch.
“That’s a decision for Ethan. I’ve talked to him a lot about that.
“I think last year was maybe a little bit different as he had injuries. You could see from the game he played against Tottenham in the Champions League he was outstanding.
“Nothing fazes him, he’s a quality player, and he just needs to keep fit now.”
Wales top their League B, Group 4 section after the opening round of games as Bulgaria and the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 in Sofia on Thursday.