Kyle Edmund and James Ward join Andy and Jamie Murray in Davis Cup final line-up with Dom Inglot missing out

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Kyle Edmund has been handed his Davis Cup debut in the fiery environment of a final after captain Leon Smith loaded his team with singles players.

The 20 year-old from Yorkshire will take on Belgian No 1 David Goffin in the opening match with the home side springing a slight surprise in pitting the talented but sometimes erratic Ruben Bemelmans against Andy Murray in the second.

Doubles specialist Dom Inglot was left out of the final four names with James Ward preferred, meaning that the Davis Cup stalwart could theoretically come in for a fifth and deciding rubber on Sunday if one was required. 

Kyle Edmund (left) has been selected to make his Great Britain debut in the Davis Cup final against Belgium

Edmund poses alongside (left to right) Andy Murray, captain Leon Smith, James Ward and Jamie Murray

The 20-year-old is in good form and captain Smith is keen to hand him an opportunity in such a big tie

Dom Inglot, a doubles specialist, is the one to make way with GB choosing to go with three singles players

Thursday’s draw was shifted to the Flanders Expo from the historic centre of Ghent as a security measure, and before an assembly of around 400 media, officials and guests the respective quartets were named.

Edmund was, as expected, preferred as the second singles player after his recent title win at the Buenos Aires Challenger event and Ward’s sharply undulating form, which saw him badly struggle after Wimbledon.

Goffin, the world No 16, will be heavily favoured to beat world No 100 Edmund, who has come close to selection in the last eighteen months but been left out at the last minute on several occasions.

It is going to be a very busy 72 hours for Andy Murray if he is to lead Great Britain to its first Davis Cup triumph since 1936. By playing second he will have less rest before Saturday afternoon’s doubles which, in the absence of Inglot, he will definitely have to play with his brother Jamie.

The British team’s plan will be to win the doubles and have Murray clinch the tie when he plays Goffin first up on Sunday afternoon. Conserving enough energy for that considerable challenge will be the prime concern for him over the first two days. 

Edmund is the youngest Davis Cup debutant in a final since France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in 2002.

The Great Britain team of Edmund, Dom Inglot, Smith, Andy Murray, James Ward and Jamie Murray line-up

The draw for the Davis Cup final is on Thursday lunchtime with captain Smith naming Edmund in his side