Jazz Richards has been added to the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium – and Town legend Andy Booth believes Joel Lynch should be in it as well.

On-loan Swansea full-back Richards has the chance to add to his two-cap tally after five more players joined under-pressure manager Chris Coleman’s withdrawals list.

The former Fulham and Coventry boss has now had to draft in nine not in his initial pool for the games in Cardiff on Friday and Brussels against the Group A leaders a week tonight.

Wales currently prop up their group, having collected just six points from their eight games so far, and there is considerable speculation about Coleman’s future.

It’s more than a year since versatile Town defender Lynch made his international debut as a substitute in the 2-0 friendly defeat by Bosnia in Llanelli.

After being named in a string of subsequent squads by Coleman, he has missed out on both the country’s double-headers this term.

Joel Lynch in action against Blackpool
Joel Lynch in action against Blackpool

Out of favour under Mark Robins at the end of last season, the 25-year-old former Nottingham Forest and Brighton man has caught they eye this time around.

And Town ambassador Booth said: “I was surprised Joel didn’t make the squad, because he’s playing regular football and he’s playing well.

“Joel has got all the attributes – strength, ability and pace – and he’s weighed in with a couple of goals as well, so why wouldn’t he figure?”

Town’s Northern Ireland duo Ollie Norwood and Martin Paterson yesterday joined up with Michael O’Neill’s squad for their qualifiers in Azerbaijan and Israel.

For the remainder of Robins’ squad, it’s a mixture of training and rest and recovery as the manager starts the countdown to the return to Championship action at Leicester a week on Saturday.