Neal Eardley has been called up to the senior Wales squad. Wales play a friendly against New Zealand in Wrexham (May 26th.) and a Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium (June 2nd.) Eardley has come on leaps and bounds in his first full season in the first team at Boundary Park. Assistant manager Tommy Wright said, "It is a great honour for Neal and a great achievement bearing in mind he is only 18 years of age and this is his first full season. Neal has been a regular in the side and come on a lot and this will be a great experience for him. He ought to pick up good habits from training with great players like Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy and also watching them at close quarters. If a big club came in for Neal we couldn't stand in his way, but that is not a concern at the moment as he is playing for us".
Should Athletic get through to the League One play off final at the new Wembley Stadium, it would clash with the New Zealand fixture but Eardley would be eligible for Athletic as May 26th. is not recognised as an international date.