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• Rob Page aiming to have Tom Lockyer back for Wales’ September fixtures

  Rob Page expects to welcome Tom Lockyer back into the Wales squad in September after the Luton defender collapsed during Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final.

  Lockyer was stretchered off after just eight minutes of the Hatters’ Wembley win against Coventry and remains in hospital.

  But Luton boss Rob Edwards has reported the 28-year-old is “fine” and Wales manager Page said Lockyer was in good spirits during a 20-minute telephone conversation he had with the central defender on Monday.

  “You are always going to phone your players and show them support,” said Page after confirming Lockyer would be absent from next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey.

  “It was just to say that we are here for him, in any capacity.

  “I am not going into detail of what’s happening or what’s going to happen. That’s conversations we are going to have with Luton Town Football Club.

  “It would be silly of me to even suggest what those reasons (for his collapse) were and the most important thing in this is health.

  “For us it’s just about getting him fit and ready for our camp in September.”

  Wales, who picked up four points from their opening two qualifiers in March, travel to Latvia in September.

  David Brooks has been recalled to the Wales squad for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.

  Brooks, who was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma while on international duty in October 2021, announced he was cancer-free in May last year.

  The 25-year-old midfielder returned to club action for Bournemouth in March and started the Cherries’ last two Premier League games.

  Page said: “I wanted to pick him in March. He played some minutes before that camp and I wanted to get him involved as soon as possible.

  “But I get that it was too soon and it was more beneficial for him to stay behind and play for Bournemouth Under-23s in a game that was organised for him.

  “Brooksy is definitely part of the changes I wanted to make post-World Cup and the way we want to play. He’s back fit, starting games in the Premier League and has the quality to be in our plans moving forward.”

  Neco Williams is also included after fracturing his jaw playing for Nottingham Forest last month. The 22-year-old has not played since.

  “He’s not played minutes because of the significance of the injury but he will be fit for camp,” said Page.

  “You can’t take away every risk and I think he’s got a protection to wear for that reason.

  “He’s so many weeks down the line so I’d think the opportunity of a refracture is very unlikely. We’ll get the medical team to assess him on camp and take away the risk as much as possible.”

  Midfielder Aaron Ramsey (calf) and goalkeeper Danny Ward (dislocated finger) have also been named in Page’s 25-man squad despite fitness issues over the pair.

  Skipper Ramsey has missed Nice’s last three games in Ligue 1.

  Page said: “The little niggle, and that’s all it is, has probably come at a good time for him.

  “He’s at an age now where he knows his body and how to manage it.

  “He’s got one eye on these two games and it is not an issue. Aaron has played more football this season than he has done for the last few years.”

  Bristol City youngster Joe Low has been called up into the senior squad for the first time to replace Lockyer.

• David Wotherspoon leaving St Johnstone as club decide against new contract offer

  St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean has decided against offering three-time trophy winner David Wotherspoon a new contract as he begins a ruthless squad overhaul.

  The 33-year-old midfielder has spent 10 years with his hometown club and helped them to Scottish Cup glory in both 2014 and 2021 as well as the 2021 League Cup.

  However, Wotherspoon is one of 14 players who will be leaving Saints this summer as MacLean, who was appointed permanent boss last weekend following an encouraging stint as interim manager, prepares to rebuild the squad following two consecutive seasons of battling relegation.

  The Canada international will be given a testimonial year by the club, with details to be announced in due course.

  Michael O’Halloran, Eetu Vertainen, Jamie Murphy, Charlie Gilmour, Bobby Dailly, Spencer Moreland and William Sandford are the other players who have not been offered new deals, while veteran midfielder Murray Davidson had already decided to retire after 14 years with Saints.

  Remi Matthews, Alex Mitchell, Adam Montgomery, Zak Rudden and Connor McLennan will all return to their parent clubs after being on loan at Saints, while Theo Bair has been made available for transfer.

  “I’ve had conversations with all of the lads who were out of contract and one or two of the decisions were hard ones to break to the players involved,” MacLean told Saints’ website.

  “Jamie is a model professional and gave his all for Saints in his year here. Michael has been part of the cup successes. I wish them both well.

  “David is a St Johnstone legend and I have total respect for him as a professional footballer and as a person.

  “He’s played a huge role in all of our successes in the past decade.

  “I’ve had a chat with him to explain the reasons behind my decision. I feel I have made the right choice for the football club as we move forward.

  “I’d like to wish David the very best in whatever comes next for him in his career.”

  Recently-appointed chief executive Stan Harris paid tribute to long-serving duo Wotherspoon and Davidson.

  “David has made a significant contribution to St Johnstone over a decade and fully deserves his status as a club legend,” he said. “On and off the park, he has served us wonderfully well.

  “He goes with the best wishes of myself and everyone else on the board.

  “Also, on behalf of the board, we wish Murray Davidson the very best as he retires from football. Murray has been at Saints for 14 years and his overall contribution has been outstanding.”

• David Martindale talks up signing of ‘leader’ Michael Devlin for Livingston

  Livingston manager David Martindale believes he has landed a high-calibre defender after signing Scotland international Michael Devlin from Hibernian.

  The 29-year-old former Hamilton, Aberdeen and Fleetwood player joined Hibs on a short-term deal in January after serious injury derailed his career following his three outings for the national team in 2019.

  Devlin’s only appearance for the Edinburgh club came as a late substitute in last weekend’s season-ending draw with Hearts.

  With his Hibs contract due to expire, he will make the short-distance switch across the Lothians to join Livingston and replenish a defence depleted by the departures of key duo Nicky Devlin and Jack Fitzwater under freedom of contract.

  “I’m delighted to get Mikey over the line,” Martindale told the Lions’ website.

  “He brings a wealth of experience at an extremely good level. Mikey has had his injury problems over the last two to three seasons but I am confident that we have a fantastic skill set at the club to get Mikey back playing Premier League football.

  “He is a good age and was playing international football late 2019. He can cover a few positions and is a leader on the park.

  “He is versatile and has played in the centre of defence, as a defensive midfielder and at right-back on occasion too.

  “There is no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for his injuries the last two seasons, he would still be playing international football and at the top end of the league.”

  Devlin has signed an initial 12-month contract that can be extended year-on-year for up to three years based on a set amount of starts each season.