Aaron Ramsey sends Chris Coleman big Wales World Cup boost as Arsenal star eyes comeback
BBC
Thursday 2nd March 2017
Aaron Ramsey has delivered Chris Coleman a World Cup boost after returning to full training – giving him three weeks to be ready for Wales’ Dublin showdown.
Ramsey put Welsh fans on edge when he limped off from Arsenal’s defeat to Watford early last month with a calf problem having already missed a huge chunk of the start of the season – including Wales’ first three World Cup qualifiers.
Ramsey waits for treatment after suffering calf injury against Watford (Photo: Getty Images Europe)
But with Coleman’s men heading to take on group leaders Republic of Ireland later this month, Ramsey has eased any fears of a selection issue after returning to full training with the Gunners right on schedule.
And he could be in Arsene Wenger’s squad for this weekend’s clash with Liverpool as he looks to get up to speed ahead of the game with Martin O’Neill’s Irish side.
Ramsey missed the campaign opener against Moldova having suffered a hamstring problem on the opening day of the Premier League season – an injury that renewed tensions between Coleman and Weng er. It had been expected the playmaker would be given extra time to recover after his Euro 2016 efforts.
Ramsey was also absent for the draw with Austria in Vienna, as well as the disappointing 1-1 draw with Georgia that has left the European Championships semi-finallists trying to make up qualifying ground.
Wales are four points behind Ireland ahead of the game at the Aiviva Stadium on March 24 having been pegged back in the final minutes against Serbia last time out.
Coleman will name his squad for the game on March 16, with Gareth Bale fit and ready having recovered from an ankle operation he underwent in December.
Wales' Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale and Joe Allen during a training session at the Vale Resort
However, the Wales boss will now have to wait to see whether Bale will have much game time before the trip to Dublin having been sent off in Real Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Las Palmas. Bale was shown a red for shoving an opponent, gaining an automatic one-match ban.
The referee’s report will determine whether he will face a longer suspension, with a three-game ban meaning he would only be able to play in Real’s Champions League clash with Napoli before international duty.
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