U21 drama for Port Vale’s on-loan striker Josh Thomas
Port Vale forward Josh Thomas had an eventful Thursday evening as the Wales U21 side took on Iceland at Newport in the Euro 2025 Under-21 Championship qualifiers.
Thomas started the match, winning his seventh cap for his country. The Swansea City youngster almost scored in first-half stoppage time as he broke clear only to be denied by a crucial tackle from a defender. Thomas then had the ball in the back of the net just before the hour mark, but his header was disallowed for a foul denying him a third U21 goal.
However, after those high points, it turned sour for Thomas three minutes later when he was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Iceland keeper Benediktsson as he chased a loose ball – with the keeper forced to leave the action.
However, ten man Wales still recorded a 1-0 win. Joe Low’s first half header was enough to see Matty Jones’ side leapfrog Iceland at the top of Group I.
Thomas’s International call-up plus England U20 call-ups for fellow loanees Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine mean that the Valiants are without a game this weekend – their home clash with Leyton Orient being postponed.