RHIAN WILKINSON has described Wales’ upcoming double-header with Ukraine as a “great test”.

Wales have made a positive start to their 2025 Women’s European Championship qualification tilt, with two wins from their opening two games.

They host Ukraine in Llanelli this evening, prior to the reverse meeting between the nations in Poland on Tuesday.

Ukraine suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Croatia after defeating Kosovo in their opening qualifier in Group B4.

Wilkinson said: “That’s football, you know, results go different ways. So Ukraine will be a a great test.

“They’re a new team for us to prepare for and that’s what I’m looking forward to. I think we’ve set a standard, but there was a lot that we need to improve on.

“We know that these games are important for me to bed in my own philosophies and ideas, for the players to get used to me and the technical staff, for them to get used to each other with a lot of different players and different rotations.

“This is a new opportunity for us to raise the bar, to really tighten up some of the areas which I thought we were a little bit loose on, which is natural.

“I don’t mean that as a huge criticism. I gave them a lot of leniency, a lot of leeway to explore what I was asking them to do and then now there’s tightening up that needs to be done to prepare for stronger opposition, and Ukraine is that, the next team in front of us.”

Victories over Croatia and Kosovo in their opening two games last month have put Wales in a strong position in the group, with the top three sides qualifying for the play-offs.

One player missing from the squad is striker Elise Hughes, who suffered an ACL injury while playing a key role in Crystal Palace claiming the Championship title this season and with it promotion to the WSL.

Wilkinson added. “Injuries happen, they’re obviously awful and upsetting, and in the women’s game ACLs are quite a reality at the moment. It’s very, very sad for Elise, but also I’m excited that we’ll hopefully have her back once we qualify for the Euros.

“I think every player handles it differently. She’s been in touch, but she’s just going at her own pace, and we’ve talked a lot about that.”

Returning to the squad after injury are Carrie Jones and goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel while Poppy Soper, Ellen Jones, Olivia Francis and Tianna Teisar are the four uncapped players in the squad. Meanwhile, there is a wealth of experience in Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, who boast over 400 senior international appearances between them.