DENIS SMITH hopes one of his two Wrexham players named in the Wales squad for the European Championship qualifiers later this month will make their international senior debuts.

Defender Ryan Valentine and midfielder Mark Jones have been selected by manager John Toshack for Wales’ double header against Slovakia (Oct 7) and Cyprus (Oct 11), with both games being played at The Millennium Stadium.

The duo were both called-up by Toshack for Wales’ opening qualifying defeat in the Czech Republic and friendly against Brazil earlier this month, but neither was named on the substitutes’ bench in the first match, with injury ruling Jones out of an appearance against the South Americans and Valentine again missing out.

Smith was delighted that the pair, both of whom have Wales under 21 caps, had been named in the senior squad and said they had sealed their places on merit.

“It is good recognition for the club and of course the lads,” said Smith today. “Mark has been on the fringes for a while but has had injuries around the time of Wales games. He will score goals at any level.

He strikes the ball early and so well, and as a defender it is hard to get blocks in. If Mark gets in range he will hit the target.

“Ryan signed from Darlington in the summer and has put himself back in the window. He is a very good player. It was good for him to be in the last Wales squad. It gave them a chance to look at Ryan and for him to get a feel of what it is like to be around those type of players, which does you no harm.

“And the good thing with Ryan is he can play on the left or right, is more than comfortable on either side, and it is useful to have a player like that.

“There is no use getting in the under 21s if you don’t go on and progress. Not everyone who has played for the under 21s will go on to play for the senior side but the Welsh system has improved and is set up to bring players through.

“It would be nice to see them involved and there is obviously a chance. Sooner or later you will see our lads doing it if they continue to produce. But we have to keep improving as a club to give them that opportunity.”

Wrexham-born midfielder Jason Koumas has been recalled to the squad and told by Toshack he is on his last chance in terms of saving his international career.

Koumas spent the summer in dispute with West Brom – prior to Bryan Robson’s sacking – and has also annoyed Toshack with a string of controversial withdrawals from Wales squads.

Now Koumas is back training with the midlands club after being fined heavily for effectively going on strike in his long-running dispute with Robson and that return to The Hawthorns fold has won the 27-year-old a final chance under Toshack.

With Ryan Giggs almost certainly out of the doubleheader, Koumas could find himself back in the starting line-up.

Toshack is also without defenders Mark Delaney (knee) and Sam Ricketts (fractured cheekbone), who have had recent operations, giving Valentine a chance to stake his claim.

Wrexham’s Chris Llewellyn and John Hartson could be added to the 24-man party by the weekend.

With Reds’ goalkeeper Mike Ingham in the Northern Ireland squad for their double-header with Denmark and Latvia , it means Smith will be looking to call-off Wrexham’s trip to Bury on Sunday, October 8. Clubs need at least three players away on international duty to postpone matches.