NEWPORT'S Lee Evans has been selected in a 26-man Wales squad for a training camp in Portugal next month ahead of the World Cup 2018 qualifier in Belgrade against Serbia.

Chris Coleman's men take on Serbia on June 11 and former Newport County AFC star Evans, now at Wolverhampton Wanderers, is in contention to feature in the crucial match.

Also included in the squad is Exeter City’s 16-year-old defender Ethan Ampadu and former under-21 captain Gethin Jones, while Gareth Bale and Neil Taylor miss out due t o suspension.

Liverpool duo Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn have also been included by Coleman following their involvement in the Wales squad for 0-0 draw against Republic of Ireland in March.

Newport-born defender James Collins misses out.

The squad will attend an intense training camp at the Vale do Lobo resort in the Algarve as preparation for the match against Serbia at the Stadion Rajko Mitić on Sunday, June 11.

Coleman used the Portuguese resort as a base for his Euro 2016 preparations last summer and was keen for a return in order to get ready for Wales’ tough qualifying match in Belgrade.

Wales sit third in qualifying group after five matches, four points behind both Serbia at the top and the Republic of Ireland in second. All three teams remain undefeated going into June’s round of matches.

Wales and Serbia last met in a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium in November. Gareth Bale had given Wales the lead on the half-hour mark but an 86th minute glancing header by Aleksander Mitrović secured a point for Serbia. 

When the team return to Wales following the training camp, Coleman will reduce the squad size to 23 for the trip to Belgrade. 

Wales squad: Hennessey, Ward, Fon Williams; A. Williams, Gunter, Chester, Davies, Richards, Walsh, Lockyer, Jones, John, Ampadu; Ramsey, Ledley, Huws, Edwards, Allen, Watkins, Wilson, Evans; Robson-Kanu, Vokes, Bradshaw, Woodburn, Lawrence