Sun 24th May - Upton Park
Last updated: 29th August 2008
Williams: Senior chance
Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams has been called into the Wales squad for the first time.
Australian-born Williams is yet to make his first-team debut at Boro - but he has impressed hugely for Brian Flynn's Under-21 side.
Now manager John Toshack has added Williams to his senior set-up for the first time, whilst also recalling Nottingham Forest's Robert Earnshaw.
Earnshaw was left out of the original squad, but doubts over Freddy Eastwood and Craig Bellamy means the Forest man is back in contention.
Wales begin their bid for a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa with a fixture against Azerbaijan in Cardiff on 6th September before visiting Russia four days later.
Toshack's squad includes eight players who have also been named in the Under 21 party for a 9th September qualifier against Romania, some of whom may leave the senior group after the game against Azerbaijan.
Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Boaz Myhill (Hull City), Lewis Price (Derby County), Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), James Collins
(West Ham United), Steve Evans (Wrexham), Chris Gunter (Tottenham Hotspur), Craig Morgan (Peterborough United), Sam Ricketts (Hull City), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Andrew Crofts (Gillingham), Simon Davies (Fulham), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Owain Tudur Jones (Swansea City), Jason Koumas (Wigan Athletic), Joe Ledley (Cardiff City), Paul Parry (Cardiff City), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Carl Robinson (Toronto FC), Brian
Stock (Doncaster Rovers), Craig Bellamy (West Ham United), David Cotterill
(Sheffield United), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Freddy Eastwood (Coventry City), Ched Evans (Manchester City), Sam Vokes (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 22nd July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Dumbarton vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Carlisle vs Middlesbrough |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Darlington vs Middlesbrough |
| Friday 7th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 20:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Swansea vs Middlesbrough |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Scunthorpe vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Doncaster |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Bristol City vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Ipswich |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Sheff Wed vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs West Brom |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Coventry vs Middlesbrough |
| Tuesday 29th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Middlesbrough vs Leicester |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Reading vs Middlesbrough |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 11th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 3 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 2nd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 26th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 3 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 4 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 8th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Everton 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 4 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Wednesday 25th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 0 West Ham | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 0 Wigan | |
| Saturday 14th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| West Ham 1 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 28th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 24th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Middlesbrough | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 |
Matthew Bates has insisted he has no regrets about his decision to remain at Middlesbrough.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Ross Turnbull from Middlesbrough on a free transfer.
David Wheater is confident of being fit for Middlesbrough's season opener against Sheffield United.
Sky Sports has announced its first live games for the season, including Boro, Newcastle and WBA.
Gareth Southgate insists that he will not throw youngsters into his first team for the sake of it.