JOEL LYNCH faces a race against time if he is to make the Wales team to play Austria in a friendly at Swansea on Wednesday.

The Town centre-back has only just returned to light training after missing the last five games with a hamstring injury.

Lynch, who has one cap, has been named in Chris Coleman's squad, but Town caretaker manager Mark Lillis warned: “He has to be right before he plays.

“Joel’s season has been stop-start to date, and we have to be careful we don’t cause any setbacks by pushing him too far too soon.

“He won’t be involved at Derby, and while we’re happy for him to report in with Wales, it could well be that their medical team decide against him being involved.”

Town have two other players on international duty next week – nine-times capped midfielder Oliver Norwood with Northern Ireland, who face Malta in Valletta, and defender Murray Wallace with Scotland Under 21s, who take on Greece in Korinthos, where he hopes for a fourth cap.

But full-back Paul Dixon has missed out on a place in the Gordon Strachan’s first full Scotland squad for the game against Estonia at Aberdeen.