Dai is in need of a little therapeutic musing about the current injury concerns amongst the Cymru players, ahead of next month’s World Cup.
This week there has been concern a plenty from all corners of the Welsh world, as rumours of injuries to Bale, Allen, Ramsey, Norrington-Davies and now Ampadu begin to swirl. I’m here to tell you not to worry, because I have to keep saying that to myself. Otherwise I’ll worry myself into drinking with breakfast every morning… for the next month. To be clear, I have no inside information whatsoever and I am writing this piece as some kind of catharsis.
Let’s start with Bale. Our talisman. Our hero. Our best ever. There is no way that Gareth Bale is taking any risks in the next month. He will be taking every sensible precaution he can to ensure he plays for Wales. His life’s work in a Welsh shirt has been building to the trip in Qatar.
The “leg issues” which have been reported have been downplayed by Steve Cherundolo, the LAFC manager. As the black and gold prepare for the conference finals against Austin FC on Sunday, there is full confidence that Bale will be available for that match. I hope Bale has some minutes in that match so he goes into the trip to the Middle East refreshed but with some minutes under his belt. After the two games in the Nations League, he’s shown he needs them.
Aaron Ramsey has a history of missing low key Wales games and then turning up when it’s required, and more importantly, delivering. He has had some hamstring issues for Nice in the last weeks which caused him to miss Wales’ Nations League games. But with all the recent concerns, Ramsey seems to be getting things right, at the right time. He came off the bench for Nice on the weekend as they grabbed a 97th minute equaliser against Nantes.
Rambo is a master of managing his body I think, to make sure he is ready for the right times. I have no doubt the decision to miss the Nations League games was a collaborative one, allowing him to rest and prepare ahead of more games in France and Europe before the USA game.
Joe Allen is more of a concern. An abortive comeback where he can’t shake off a hamstring issue of his own. Allen is key for Wales, as we all know, especially as a lack of talented depth in the midfield position can, and will, be highlighted in big games. His club manager, Russell Martin, said he’s unable to give a definitive date for a return. Allen seems dissimilar to Bale in how he returns to playing action. He is someone who doesn’t need to play himself into form, as our talisman at times seems to need.
Joe will hit the ground running on his return and I’m less concerned about him missing game time in the build up to the tournament. He was in fine form for the Swans in his most recent playing return and I have no doubt he’ll pick up where he left off in the red of Cymru. Everything he does from now onward will be Wales focused and he will be 100% committed to getting there. We have a great medical and physio team (just ask Joe Ledley) and I’m confident Allen will benefit from this.
One of the worries I do have is over Ethan Ampadu, who came off after 75 minutes of Spezia’s 1-0 loss on the weekend. No further detail has been released yet as the club presumably try to look into what has happened. The concern here is twofold, aside from the fact he’s really good at football. His versatility is key for us and he will be starting either in midfield or at the back, depending on how things go. The issue here is that he’s someone who is so talented in a key area of the pitch, where as I’ve previously mentioned, we are thin on genuine depth.
Embed from Getty ImagesOur midfield looked exposed to an extent against Belgium and the Poles. We need someone like Ethan in there. Secondly, he is someone who has a mixed injury record in recent years. I sincerely hope he makes a quick recovery from whatever his niggles are. He is a vital cog in the Cymru wheel.
Rhys Norrington-Davies is the other one I’m worried about. I don’t mean this in a dismissive way, as he’s a key member of our squad, but he’s not a starter for us. I say that because he may have a little more time to recover from his own hamstring issue. If it was Ben Davies, who will undoubtedly start in Qatar all being well, then the time frame shifts. If Norrington Davies needs an extra week to get fit, he’ll likely get it as someone who won’t be on the pitch in the opening game.
Rhys is a fit and strong lad and although it does seem a bad issue hamstring wise, he’s been a “machine” fitness wise. This encourages me to think he’s in great physical shape and as a consequence in an excellent place to recover and contribute if needed.
As a side note, goalkeeper Adam Davies made his own return from injury in goal, during the game Norrington Davies got injured. So there is some positive news on the injury front.
Expect a lot of this type of story in the coming weeks. Click bait to get Wales fans concerned, and more importantly, sharing articles. Bar broken bones, our big names will move heaven and earth to get on that plane. I’m confident everyone around them will ensure they are given every chance to make that flight too. Panic not. All the big hitters will be ready to help us take on the world. Come on Cymru.