Wales' Fishlock available for Slovakia tests - Wilkinson

Manager Rhian Wilkinson says Jess Fishlock is available to play in Wales' 2025 Women's European Championship play-off double header with Slovakia - but admits she may need to monitor the midfielder's minutes following her spell out of action through injury.

Wales’ most-capped player and all-time top goal scorer has not played since sustaining a leg injury during Seattle Reign's 3-2 win over Angel City on Friday, 6 September.

But the 37-year-old has been included in Wilkinson's 26-player squad for games against Slovakia on Friday, 25 October in Poprad and Tuesday, 29 October at Cardiff City Stadium.

The winner of the tie will face either the Republic of Ireland or Georgia later this year for a place in the finals in Switzerland next summer.

“Jess is fully invested in her club but also in making sure she’s healthy enough to perform, so we’re expecting her to be available for us for the matches," said Wilkinson.

“Jess will give and do anything for her country and we’re coming to the play-offs now.

“My intention is not to play her for two 90 minutes, I’ve tried not to do that through the campaign, but when I’ve had to, I’ve left her on the field and I’ll do the same [against Slovakia]. It’s about results at this point."

Fishlock broke the all-time Wales goal scoring record - previously held by Helen Ward - as Wales beat Kosovo 2-0 in Llanelli in July.

Victory at Parc y Scarlets saw Wilkinson's side top their group having collected 14 of the 18 points on offer to earn a double header with Slovakia.

They will be without midfielder Sophie Ingle who misses out after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] injury during Chelsea's pre-season match against Feyenoord in September.

Crystal Palace forward Elise Hughes is also continuing her recovery from an ACL injury.

But Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland is included after picking up a foot injury in early October, while Leicester City forward Hannah Cain also features as she goes through the final stages of recovery following a second ACL injury of her career.

Josie Green and Anna Filbey return to the squad - which also includes uncapped forwards Mared Griffiths, Tianna Teisar and Ellen Jones.

Earlier in October, the Football Association of Wales [FAW] announced Angharad James as the new captain of the women's side.

Wilkinson believes the Seattle Reign midfielder - who has captained her country on three occasions - was the perfect fit to wear the armband as Wales look to secure a first major tournament appearance.

“I took my time, you may or may not know, to name my captain," explained Wilkinson.

"I felt it was important to do, not just for me to get to know the players, but also for the players to understand that the person I was choosing was going to be the right one, and it’s definitely Angharad James.

“To see her in the group and how she works with the young players, how she makes sure everyone in the group is being heard and speaks for the quieter women as well, I think is important."

Wales head into their play-off campaign unbeaten in this campaign having won four matches and drawn two in qualifying, scoring 18 goals across the six games.

They take on a Slovakia side that won just once in six qualifying fixtures, although Wilkinson does not feel their results reflected the talents within their squad.

"I’ve seen all of their games. They’re a team that does what they do very well," said Wilkinson.

“If you don’t respect them and the talents they have on that field and if you look past them for a second, they’ll hurt you.

“I think they’ve got some underrated talents and I don’t think their results reflect how well they can play at times."

Wales face Slovakia in Poprad on 25 October before welcoming the same opposition to Cardiff City Stadium four days later.

Should Wales progress to the play-off final, they will take on either Georgia or the Republic of Ireland over two legs, on Friday, 29 November and Tuesday, 3 December with a place at next summer's finals up for grabs.