MX23RW : Wednesday, April 24 09:50:12| >> :600:2386358:2386358:

Aaron Ramsey missing as Wales head to Europe

Aaron Ramsey missing as Wales head to Europe
© Reuters
Neco Williams, Joe Rodon and George Thomas have also withdrawn from Robert Page's squad.

Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be absent again with Wales hit by injury and visa issues ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia.

Ramsey, who featured in only 19 of Wales' previous 44 games before playing at Euro 2020 this summer, suffered a thigh injury playing for his Italian club on August 22.

Liverpool full-back Neco Williams, Tottenham defender Joe Rodon and QPR midfielder George Thomas have also withdrawn from Wales duty through injury.

Brandon Cooper, Mark Harris, Josh Sheehan and Ben Woodburn have been drafted into the squad.

But Swansea defender Cooper, alongside Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu and Leeds striker Tyler Roberts, will miss the Belarus qualifier which has been switched to the Russian city of Kazan.

The trio were unable to get their Russian visa approved in time and will travel back to Cardiff after Wednesday's friendly in Finland to prepare for the Estonia game, while the rest of the squad head to Kazan.

UEFA had to move the September 5 qualifier to a neutral venue with teams from the UK and the European Union unable to enter Belarus by air due to sanctions against the Minsk government.

Wales v Czech Republic – FIFA World Cup 2022 – European Qualifying – Group E – Cardiff City Stadium
Ethan Ampadu will miss Wales' World Cup qualifier against Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan over a visa issue (Nick Potts/PA)

Wales boss Robert Page, who continues to stand in for absent manager Ryan Giggs, has called the decision to play the game in Kazan – Russia's fifth largest city 700 kilometres east of Moscow – "crazy".

"Organising it from a financial and logistical point of view is a nightmare," Page said after announcing a 27-man squad last week.

"The players will only be aware of it because of the bio-mechanic tests that we've got to do.

Euro 2020 Package
Wales boss Robert Page has criticised UEFA's decision to play their World Cup qualifier against Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan (Nick Potts/PA)

"We've got to get them organised to go to different parts of the UK to get their fingerprints done and get tested.

"We've had to pick a larger squad because of the visas, they've to be submitted three weeks before we go – which again is crazy.

"UEFA could have picked any neutral venue but they've decided on Kazan."

ID:461525:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6455:

Click here for more stories about Aaron Ramsey

Click here for more stories about Wales

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Wales attacker Gareth Bale pictured at Euro 2020 on June 16, 2021
Read Next:
Robert Page delighted with Gareth Bale's impact on Real Madrid return
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!