Wales' most-capped footballer Jess Fishlock to miss pre-World Cup qualifiers friendly as new faces arrive

Wales' most-capped footballer Jess Fishlock has been rested for her team's friendly against New Zealand at the end of this month.

Gemma Grainger has announced a 25-player squad for her side’s match in Pinatar, Spain, on Tuesday, June 28 (6.30pm kick-off BST) which will act as a final audition before rounding off Wales Women's World Cup qualifying campaign in September.

Wales travel to Spain with a near full-strength squad, but Fishlock has been rested for the trip which falls at the midway point of America's NWSL season with OL Reign.

Orlando Pride midfielder Angharad James is named in the squad and could win her 98th cap, while stalwarts Helen Ward and Natasha Harding - who both his 100 Wales caps earlier this year - join captain Sophie Ingle in the squad.

Manchester United and Wales U19s goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel receives her first call-up to the senior team.

Harding, who left Women's Super League side Reading at the end of the season, is one of six players in the Wales squad who is currently unattached to a club, joining Anna Filbey and Josie Green (who have departed Tottenham), goalkeeper Poppy Soper, midfielder Megan Wynne and attacker Elise Hughes, but Grainger is not concerned.

Wales last faced New Zealand in June 2019, when a late Kayleigh Green goal secured a 1-0 win at the Leckwith Stadium.

This month's friendly will be Wales' final preparations ahead of their last two World Cup qualifiers: away to Greece on Thursday, September 2, and home to Slovenia at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, September 6. Wales need four points from both games to secure a second-place finish in the group and a play-off spot for next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. If successful, it would mark qualification for