Wales planning talks with Juventus over Aaron Ramsey availability for qualifiers

Wales are planning talks with Juventus over Aaron Ramsey’s World Cup qualifying availability.

Ramsey was named in the Wales squad for their opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers – in Belgium on March 24 and against the Czech Republic in Cardiff six days later.

But Ramsey missed Juventus’ 3-1 Serie A win at Cagliari on Sunday with a thigh injury, and reports in Italy have suggested that the 30-year-old former Arsenal midfielder will be out for three weeks.

“We’ve got to be sympathetic in how we deal with it and communication between ourselves and the club is imperative,” said caretaker boss Robert Page, who will again be standing in for absent manager Ryan Giggs for the two World Cup qualifiers and a home friendly with Mexico sandwiched in between.

“We’ll have dialogue with the club and see where we’re at with it.

“We’ll have conversations and if we feel it’s doable to get him in and in contention for parts of these games then we’ll see.

“But we have to respect that Juventus might not want to risk him and get his recovery done there.

“Our medical team will take no chances if he’s not going to be fit, but we’ll see if we can get him over and have a look.”

Ramsey has had a long history of muscle injuries and started only three of Wales’ last 20 games.

He has played only once since Wales qualified for the delayed 2020 European Championship in November 2019 and some fans have begun to question his commitment.

Page said: “I understand where the fans are coming from but if you’re injured, you’re injured.

“No-one will be more frustrated than Aaron right now. He’s keen to come, he wants to get in the building and for us to have a look at him.

“Hopefully things will develop in the next 24 hours and we’ll have a clearer picture of what we’re going to do with him.

“But I wouldn’t question his commitment, and whenever he plays he adds value to the team.”

Page said there has been no contact between Wales and Tottenham over captain Gareth Bale’s condition.

Bale has started Tottenham’s last four Premier League games after struggling for fitness for much of the campaign following his season-long loan move from Real Madrid in September.

“There’s been no conversation with him,” Page said when asked if there had been dialogue with Spurs boss Jose Mourinho.

“I think he understands as well that we have important games, and I keep saying that we have a medical team who understand what they are doing as regards to Gareth.

“He is playing more minutes coming into this camp than what he was previously in November’s camp, when he was not playing many minutes and we managed his load well. It is no different now.”