Fishlock to start for Wales as future taken off agenda

Euro 2025 Qualifying Round One play-off second leg: Wales v Slovakia

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday, 29 October Kick-off: 19:15 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Highlights S4C and later on demand.

Rhian Wilkinson said now is not the time to discuss Jess Fishlock’s Wales future after revealing the midfielder will start Tuesday’s Euro 2025 play-off against Slovakia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Fishlock, 37, said in April that the current qualifying campaign would “probably” be her last attempt to reach a major tournament.

Wales manager Wilkinson says Fishlock will start the play-off semi-final second leg having returned from injury as a substitute in Friday’s 2-1 first-leg defeat in Slovakia.

But when Fishlock was asked whether her future prospects would come into her head going into the game, Wilkinson interjected.

"I think it’s an obvious question to ask, of course, of our legendary players when they are getting to an age that’s closer to retirement than their debut," Wilkinson said.

"Jess Fishlock is one of the best players to ever play for Wales, so to ask her when that career will end, especially when these games are coming up... I am just going to take that off the table for her because it’s a critical game.

"Jess could play well into her forties. It is a personal decision when you stop playing, a very personal one - it involves the player and also their family. It takes a lot of context, so I don’t think it’s fair to answer that right now because we have such an important game [on Tuesday]."

The availability of Fishlock, Wales’ most capped player and record goalscorer, is a huge boost for Wilkinson’s team as they look to bounce back following their surprise defeat in Slovakia.

The Seattle Reign player had not played since suffering a leg injury on 6 September before coming on as a 64th-minute substitute in Poprad.

"Injuries are part of this game," Fishlock said.

"This time it was terrible timing, but the Reign and Wales have been working really hard behind the scenes and I have been working really hard on the grass.

"I am ready as ever, as always, to do what I can for this country, as I have done for the last almost 20 years now. I am super-excited tomorrow, I can’t wait."

Fishlock’s pass saw fellow substitute Ffion Morgan score a late goal in Slovakia to give Wales hope going into their return meeting.

Tuesday’s winners in Cardiff are likely to face the Republic of Ireland – who beat Georgia 6-0 in their first leg – in a play-off final, with the victors heading to Euro 2025.

Wales have never previously qualified for a women’s major tournament.

"We know we have to get to a major tournament but we have to focus on what we are doing right now," Fishlock said.

"For me personally, anything that is done playing for Wales, always means the most. Whether it be [Slovakia], whether it be my first cap, whether it be in Pinatar, playing for Wales for me just means the most.

"Each game I have always taken as if it was my first and as if it was my last, because you should never take it for granted and I never will."