• West Ham defender’s injury curse strikes again
• Wales to make decision over fitness of Joe Ledley
Wales have lost their defender Danny Gabbidon for their two World Cup qualifiers against Finland and Liechtenstein over the next week.
The West Ham player has pulled out with a calf injury that has stopped him training for the past fortnight. It is a bitter blow for Gabbidon, who has been easing himself back to top-level action this season after being dogged by injuries for two years.
Gabbidon made his Wales comeback against Montenegro in August, and also figured against Russia last month, but he is now out of the Finland game in Helsinki on Saturday and next Wednesday’s final qualifier in Liechtenstein.
Wales will also make a decision tomorrow over the fitness of Cardiff’s midfielder Joe Ledley, who is suffering from a pelvic injury and had a scan today to assess the problem. Ledley will now see a specialist tomorrow, with the likelihood that he will also miss the Group Four qualifiers.
The captain, Craig Bellamy, reported to the squad’s hotel this evening and is fit to travel, despite worries that he had picked up a knee problem while scoring for Manchester City in their 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Monday.
The Football Association of Wales has still not been able to confirm its proposed friendly with Scotland in Cardiff on 14 November, despite the FAW council agreeing to the match – to be played at Cardiff City’s new stadium – earlier today. It is understood that the Scottish FA is still completing the contract details and an announcement is expected tomorrow.
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