"Both of them have performed for Wales but I don't feel either of them really grabbed the jersey yet and so I try not to make it [so] that it's a combative environment. They know before they come in which games they're going to be playing, so I try to tell them that you have just got to perform in your game."
"If they can do that consistently, they'll grab the number one, but I do not feel one of them has taken that number one role yet. The frustration for Wilkinson is that neither player is a regular at club level, which limits their opportunities to develop and prove themselves consistently."
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson maintains a rotation policy between goalkeepers Olivia Clark and Safia Middleton-Patel during the 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign. Wilkinson believes neither goalkeeper has firmly established themselves as the primary choice, so she rotates them to avoid creating a combative environment while allowing each to demonstrate their capabilities. Clark, 24, from Leicester City, has started 18 of Wilkinson's 24 matches, while Middleton-Patel, 21, from Manchester United, has started six. Both players receive advance notice of their match assignments. Wilkinson acknowledges a challenge: neither goalkeeper is a regular starter at club level, limiting their match experience and development opportunities.
Read at www.bbc.com
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