World Cup qual - Collison adds to Welsh woes

Eurosport - Tue, 02 Jun 15:34:00 2009

Wales boss John Toshack has suffered another savage blow with the loss of West Ham midfielder Jack Collison from his depleted squad.

2008 Wales Jack Collison - 0

It means that four players have been forced to withdraw from the party that travels to Azerbaijan in 24 hours.

It leaves Toshack with a squad of just 19 for the trip to Baku for Saturday's World Cup qualifier, including three goalkeepers.

The only addition to the travelling party has been Swansea winger Shaun MacDonald, 20.

The loss of Collison is just another blow to Toshack's plans. When the squad re-assembled at their Slough hotel near Heathrow on Monday, the 20-year-old's knee injury - aggravated against Estonia on Friday - received a thorough examination by the Wales medical team.

It was decided that he would travel to Baku, and that Toshack would consider his fitness after more treatment.

But on Tuesday morning Collison trained with the Wales squad at Bisham Abbey, and afterwards it was decided that he would not be fit enough to travel.

Football Association of Wales spokesman Ceri Stennett said: "A five-hour-plus flight would certainly not have helped Jack's knee, and it was clear after training that there was no point taking a risk with him."

Toshack had already been reeling from the loss of Gareth Bale, Ched Evans and Sam Ricketts on Monday.

PA Sport / Eurosport

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  1. Fully agree with that Ray it's a disgrace, players­ should only play for their country of birth or if­ they've lived in a country for five years and­ changed their nationality. I lost interest in English­ cricket when they became the commonwealth all-stars,­ rugby's going the same way I repeat it's a­ disgrace.

    From Ronsenglish, on Thu 4 Jun 2:40AM

  2. England's player of 2006 Hargreaves must be­ struggling because he's Canadian then?

    From Ray, on Wed 3 Jun 4:40PM

  3. yes he is English 'Rose' lol ....... and­ also he needs more rest after his intial knee injury,­ he is playing too soon ...west ham do this in­ desperation to a lot of our players, and wales it seems­ are in the same position, all it does is ruin another­ season for a player who might otherwise have played for­ us... crazy

    From garybillingham, on Wed 3 Jun 9:56AM

  4. It's because it's not ment to be he's­ English

    From Ronsenglish, on Wed 3 Jun 1:35AM
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