Burns and Maxwell cut from Wales' Euro 2016 squad

Former Fleetwood Town loanee Wes Burns and departing keeper Chris Maxwell have missed out on places in Wales' 23-man Euro 2016 squad.
Wes Burns in action for Fleetwood TownWes Burns in action for Fleetwood Town
Wes Burns in action for Fleetwood Town

Burns, who scored five times in 14 appearances after joining Town on loan from Bristol City in February, helped Steven Pressley’s men beat the drop.

He was in Wales manager Chris Coleman’s 29-man squad that took part in a training camp in Portugal but, despite impressing in training, the 21-year-old has missed the cut. The striker has to settle for the role of 24th man as he will travel with the Wales squad for their last pre-tournament friendly against Sweden as cover for Reading winger Hal Robson-Kanu.

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Coleman says Robson-Kanu developed a minor problem in a game in Portugal and Burns will be taken as back up.

Coleman reiterated that there is time to make changes before their first group game against Slovakia in France on June 11 but expects Robson-Kanu to be okay although he is not expected to train before their first game with Slovakia.

Keeper Maxwell was a late call-up to the training camp due to a doubt over Liverpool keeper Danny Ward’s fitness.

But Maxwell, who is set to join Preston North End on a free transfer on July 1, missed the cut as Coleman opted for Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey, Liverpool’s Ward and Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Owain Fon Williams as his three keepeers.

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Coleman said: “It’s not telling someone that they’re not in the team – this is much bigger and I didn’t look forward to the conversations but it had to be done.

“Some reacted differently to others, but no matter how they reacted I understood because it’s a huge event and everyone wants to be a part of it.

“There were some tough conversations. I didn’t expect them to be walking out with a smile on their face – and they weren’t.”

As expected former Fleetwood and current Leicester City 2015/16 Premier League title winning striker Jamie Vardy has been named in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for Euro 2016.