Gareth Bale (Credit: Al Robinson)
Wales boss Chris Coleman took his squad for their first training session of the week today, with star man Gareth Bale joining up with the squad ahead of the crucial double header of qualifiers set for the next week.
Coleman has a 23-player squad at his disposal for the final Group D FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Georgia and Republic of Ireland.
Wales will be in Tbilisi to face Georgia on Friday before a potentially vital encounter with Martin O'Neill's charges in Cardiff three days later.
Six points out of six for the Welshmen against Austria and Moldova in the last round of World Cup fixtures changed the complexion of the group with the 2016 European championship semi-finalists now ahead of Ireland in second place. They are looking for another couple of wins now too.
“We need to two wins,” said Coleman when he named his squad.“We need to take care of business ourselves. I’m thinking about going to the World Cup.”
Gareth Bale is named in the squad even though the Real Madrid player has a calf issue. His club manager Zinedine Zidane would prefer if he didn’t play with Wales this week.
Bale did play in the Champions League last week but he wasn’t involved in Real’s win over Espanyol at the weekend.
Zidane: "Gareth will go with his national team. He has not played, but as he still has a bit of an issue we would prefer him not to play."
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) October 1, 2017
Martin O’Neill named his slimmed down squad on Monday, with ex-Cork City man Sean Maguire making the cut.
Maguire's Preston colleague Chris Maxwell and youthful David Brooks (Sheffield United) are with the Welsh squad for the first time.
Youngster @DRBrooks15 took part in his first Wales training session this morning following his maiden senior call-up. #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/P5CGtd4rLN
— Wales (@FAWales) October 2, 2017
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey is hoping to collect his 50th cap for Wales against the Georgians.
Serbia currently head Group D on 18 points, four ahead of Wales, who in turn have a point in hand on the Irish. The Wales v Republic of Ireland clash is likely to decide second place.
However, the second placed team in Group D may have to depend on results in other groups to ensure a spot in the play-offs.
Wales squad to face Georgia and Republic of Ireland:
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Liverpool), Chris Maxwell (Preston).
Defenders: Chris Gunter (Reading), James Chester (Aston Villa), Ashley Williams (Everton), Ben Davies (Tottenham), Neil Taylor (Aston Villa), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Stoke), Joe Ledley (Derby), David Edwards (Reading), Andy King (Leicester), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Jonathan Williams (Sunderland)
Forwards: Marley Watkins (Norwich), Hal Robson-Kanu (West Brom), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Tom Lawrence (Derby), Ben Woodburn (Liverpool), David Brooks (Sheffield United).
The Wales squad take in their first training session in Cardiff ahead of this week's World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and @FAIreland. pic.twitter.com/JNa0EIAqk2
— Wales (@FAWales) October 2, 2017
John Manning
John Manning began writing for Extratime.ie this year after retiring from the insurance industry. He has been a regular attendee at League of Ireland football matches since the 1970s. He has particularly supported Cork Hibs, Cork Celtic, Cork United, Cork City but has attended many other matches also.
He was formerly Webmaster of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland website (www.ppui.ie) to which he still contributes. He is currently Webmaster of the International Pitch and Putt Association website (www.fippa.org).
John broadcast Pitch and Putt on the airwaves from 1994 to 2005 – on CKR, KFM, KCLR FM, Midlands Radio 3, Radio Kerry and Cork 103 FM.
John held many administrative posts within the sport of Pitch and Putt
· Treasurer Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland 1992-93
· Public Relations Officer Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland 1994 – 2005
· General Secretary European Pitch and Putt Association 2000 - 2010
John Manning was the Editor of ‘Backspin’ – official monthly magazine of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland – between 1989 and 2005. He still currently contributes to ‘Backspin’.
He is a fervent supporter of the Republic of Ireland football team – home and sometimes away.
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