Rabbi Matondo is called up to the Wales national team squad as Rangers teammate Tom Lawrence continues to be overlooked by Rob Page.
Rangers star Matondo, 23, has returned from an injury issue to be called up to his first squad since November 2023, with the winger last playing for Wales in August 2022.
That’s when Rabbi Matondo came off the bench v the Netherlands to earn what was only the 11th cap of an initially promising international career with Wales.
Rangers took to social media to praise the winger for the call-up, but some Ibrox fans will be scratching their heads over Tom Lawrence.
Rabbi Matondo yes, Tom Lawrence no for Wales
Tom Lawrence was last called up to the Wales national squad in March 2021 and has failed to add to his 23 Welsh caps since.
Injury badly disrupted Tom Lawrence’s first season in Glasgow, whilst this campaign the club is only just beginning to see the best of the Derby County winger.
Despite a resurgence at Rangers, Wales manager Rob Page has overlooked Tom Lawrence and it’s not for the first time in the attacker’s career.
Back in April 2022, just months before Tom Lawrence moved to Rangers, his manager at Derby County Wayne Rooney told Rob Page to “get over” anything “personal” he had for the player.
This, according to Rooney, stems from Page’s time in charge of the Welsh U21s.
“Tom Lawrence wants to play for Wales, but it’s a personal choice from the Wales manager,” said Rooney.
“I think he managed Tom at U21 level and maybe there’s a bit of history. As manager, you need to get over that.
“Wales are in a position where they are trying to qualify for the World Cup. They need their best players and Tom is certainly one of Wales’ best players.”
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Of course, Rob Page has since responded to the comments by claiming that he doesn’t have it in for Wales forward Tom Lawrence at all.
In fact, the Welsh manager claims that the decision not to recall him is “just football” with the likes of Spurs’ Brennan Johnson and Cardiff’s Ruben Colwill ahead of him in the squad.
Somehow we have our reservations about that with a fit and firing Tom Lawrence a genuine asset to both Rangers and Wales but the national side’s loss is certainly Rangers’ gain.
Rabbi Matondo will be Rangers’ only representative for Wales and it certainly looks like the country could use all the help it can get.
Infamous former Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey has also been included in the squad, with Wales to play in a Euro 2024 playoff against Finland.