
Soffia Kelly has been praised by Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson ahead of their Women's Nations League games against Denmark and Italy.
The goalkeeper from Barry is part of the squad for their last competitive action ahead of the Women's Euros in Switzerland.
Kelly, who signed her first professional contract with Aston Villa in March, has already represented Wales at under 19 level.
She's yet to win her first senior cap, but Soffia forms part of a four-strong goalkeeping squad that includes Charlton Athletic's Poppy Soper (also uncapped), Manchester United's Saf Middleton-Patel and Leicester City's Olivia Clark.
GK squad 🤗🧤 pic.twitter.com/bLPjFMx5bx
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) May 28, 2025
With Wales' first appearance at a major tournament on the horizon, all four will be aiming to step up to the gap left by Gwalia United's Laura O'Sullivan Jones, who has been ruled out of the Euros due to an ACL injury.
Asked about how Soffia has fared in the training with the Wales camp, Rhian Wilkinson told Bro Radio from Odense: "She's been brilliant. We had her in for a bit last camp as well, just to integrate her a little bit."
"I'd be remiss not to mention we obviously miss Laura. She's been part of this squad...it was an awful moment to lose her to an ACL."
"So we lose a 70-odd cap leader on the team and it's a hard position to walk into. I think Soffia's done a great job of bringing in an..energy, training hard and appreciating this experience with the seniors."
"She's been great because it's not an easy role to play."
Wilkinson will name her Women's Euros squad from the summit of Yr Wyddfa next month - with former captain Sophie Ingle facing a race against time to make a full recovery.
But ahead of an historic summer, Wales will also be aiming to maintain their place in the top tier of the Women's Nations League.
Despite two hugely credible draws against World Cup bronze medalists Sweden in Wrexham and Gothenburg, Wales are still yet to claim their first group win this year.
Defeat against Denmark on Friday night would see them relegated to League B, ahead of Tuesday's clash with Italy at the Swansea.com stadium.
"It's always going to be that fight to stay up, and equally, we may bounce back down", said Wilkinson.
"We want to stay in League A, but I said in the very beginning that I'm not going to sacrifice my preparation for the Euros to stay in...League A, but we'll do everything we can."