RYAN Astley has been included in the Welsh squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21s European Championship 2023 qualifiers.

The Llanfair Caereinion raised star is one of the emerging talents at FA Premier League side Everton having made the substitutes bench for the Goodison Park club this season.

Astley is one of 20 players to earn a call up for the camp as Paul Bodin plots to take points in Switzerland on March 25 and against Bulgaria who visit Newport Rugby Club's Rodney Parade on Tuesday, March 29.

Bodin’s side had a narrow 1-0 loss at home to the Swiss in their last match of the campaign in November.

However, Wales will hope for a repeat of the first match to Bulgaria in Sofia, where a Jack Vale hat trick ensured a 4-0 win.

Astley is a regular in the U21s set up which has provided a host of players for Rob Page's senior team in the past few years.

Both matches will be broadcast online on the Sgorio Facebook and YouTube channels.

Astley joined the Toffees at the age of nine and was awarded a scholarship to play for Everton in November 2017.

The centre-half was Wales’ Under-17 skipper for back-to-back international friendlies against Scotland and Hungary that year and he led the team for fixtures during the preparations for the UEFA qualifiers.

2018 was a big year and he played his first game for Everton's Under-18s in a mini-Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

He made rapid progress through the senior academy teams and featured a number of times before being promoted to the Under-23s in 2019 under David Unsworth, making a major contribution to the historic Premier League Two and Premier League Cup victories.

Astley picked up his 'official' shirt number playing in Checkatrade Trophy games for Everton sides that were strictly classed as U21s up against first-team opposition from League One and League Two that season.

Astley captained Wales at under 17s level and agreed a two and a half year deal with Everton in January 2019.

Astley spent the past two seasons as part of the U23s squad at Goodison Park and agreed a new two year deal last summer to tie him to the club until June, 2023.