Tuesday 11 September 2012

Coleman Concerns for Serbia

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Joe Allen remains a fitness doubt for Wales as they prepare for Tuesday's 2014 World Cup qualifier with Serbia.

Liverpool midfielder Allen missed Friday's 2-0 opening Pool A loss to Belgium because of illness, but he has travelled with the squad to Serbia.

He took part in his first training session since Thursday on Monday night.

"We don't know if we've got him back yet," said manager Chris Coleman, who will be without defender James Collins after his sending off against Belgium.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, forward Craig Bellamy, defender Neil Taylor and midfielders Jack Collison, Joe Ledley and Andrew Crofts remain unavailable because of injury.

But David Vaughan could return to make his first appearance of the season after a knee injury.

Vaughan was a late addition to the Wales bench against Belgium despite having taken a limited part in training in the lead up to the match.

The Sunderland player is a ready-made replacement should Allen fail to recover from the virus that forced him out of the team to face Belgium on the morning of the match.

"On the back of the disappointment of losing the other players it was a bitter pill to swallow," added Coleman of Allen's loss.

"So we'll see how he gets on [in training]. It's his first session for four days, but fingers crossed, even if he can play some part, it'll be something."

Allen's loss forced Ashley Williams into an unfamiliar role as a holding midfielder, although he slotted back into the back four after Collins was sent off on 26 minutes.

Williams and Darcy Blake are expected to continue their partnership that pleased Coleman in Cardiff, with Adam Matthews and Chris Gunter the full-backs.

One possible change could see Gareth Bale switch from the right to the left flank, his more familiar role for club side Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale looked more of a threat after making such a switch in the final stages against Belgium.

He has started recent games on the right for Wales, but mainly to accommodate Bellamy in his favoured position on the left.

But with Bellamy missing, Coleman could be tempted to use Bale in a position where he has made such an impact at club level.

Injury was the original reason given for Bellamy's absence, but it has since emerged the Cardiff City forward has personal problems.

And Coleman said: "Forget football, let's hope Craig's okay. He's got problems in his personal life…he'll get through it, then he'll come out the other side, but football's by the side.

"As long as Craig's alright as a person [that's what matters].

"But that's something I can't affect. All I can affect is what I've got now and all I can concentrate on is the players I've got now and that's all I'm doing."

Wales' fixture in Novi Sad is their first against Serbia, who became an independent football nation in 2006.

Serbia, who have lost only one competitive fixture at home, began their campaign with a 0-0 draw away to Scotland.

Wales squad:
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Aberdeen), Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Price (Crystal Palace).

Defenders: Darcy Blake (Crystal Palace), Chris Gunter (Reading), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town), Adam Matthews (Celtic), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Ben Davies (Swansea).

Midfielders: Joe Allen (Liverpool), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andy King (Leicester City), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, capt), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), David Vaughan (Sunderland).

Forwards: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), Simon Church (Reading), Steve Morison (Norwich City), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff City).



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