Rob Page Backs David Brooks, Harry Wilson And Kieffer Moore To Plug Wales’ Big Gaps Ahead Of Croatia Clash

Rob Page has described the loss of “big players” Aaron Ramsey and Brennan Johnson for Wales’ vital Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia as a “blow.

But the Wales manager is confident the pair will be fit for final group games in November.

Skipper Ramsey misses out with a knee tendon problem that has forced him to miss Cardiff’s last five games, while Tottenham’s new £47.5million forward Johnson is sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained in the north London derby draw at Arsenal.

“I don’t think the injuries are too serious but unfortunately it has put both players out of this camp,” Page said.

“It is a blow for us because they are big players for us. Aaron has probably been playing his most relaxed football, so that is an added blow.

“Brennan has picked up an injury. To what level we still don’t know yet, but it rules him out of this camp.

“In spite of the injuries, we’ve still got enough in the team from a forward perspective to create chances against Croatia.

“We are quite strong in those positions with David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore.”

There have been fears that 32-year-old Ramsey may require surgery after making such a promising start to the season upon returning to hometown club Cardiff.

But Page is hopeful Ramsey and Johnson will both be available for the November double-header against Armenia and Turkey, which will decide if Wales secure automatic Euro 2024 qualification or are forced to rely on the play-offs.

“To be mentioning surgery suggests it is a significant injury,” Page said. “I had injuries as a player and you can let it heal naturally or go down the surgery route.

 

“I would always take the option for it to heal naturally, so I get it why he’s gone down that route.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a spell of games going beyond November that he’s going to miss.

“So we’re confident that we can get him back for November’s camp providing how well he heals. But we’ll have to wait and see.”

On Johnson, Page added: “It’s not a serious one but the timing dictates it (his omission). If he’s not going to be right for Spurs, then it’s not fair for us to pick him and try and play him.”

Page has handed first senior call-ups to midfielder Charlie Savage – son of former Wales international Robbie – and full-back Owen Beck, the great nephew of Ian Rush.

Uncapped Fulham teenager Luke Harris also returns to the squad, with Wales hosting Gibraltar in a Wrexham friendly, four days before the Croatia clash in Cardiff.

Asked if Savage senior, his former teammate, had been in touch, Page said: “Numerous times, I can’t get him off the phone. I’ve had to tell him: ‘Stop texting me, I know he’s doing OK.’

“You know what Rob’s like, he’s very enthusiastic, but Charlie can take care of himself.

“Look at what Rob went through when he left Man United years ago to get a career for himself going at Crewe. No different to Charlie, who has gone out to Reading where he has been playing and scoring goals.”

Wrexham striker Paul Mullin has been put on the standby list after scoring nearly 80 goals in just over two seasons for the Red Dragons, now in Sky Bet League Two after last season’s promotion from the National League.

Mullin, 28, who qualifies through his Welsh-born grandmother, has only just returned to action after puncturing a lung and fracturing four ribs on Wrexham’s pre-season tour to the United States.

Page said: “He’s on standby for the squad and one step away.

“We monitor Welsh players up and down the country, and if they are scoring goals at whatever level we’ll take note.”

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Radical change’ in Tottenham player’s situation could lead to exit – Entourage contacted for January deal

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has lost prominence at Tottenham Hotspur after Ange Postecoglou’s arrival in the summer.

The 28-year-old joined Spurs in 2020 and was a regular under both José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Gazzetta dello Sport state he had ‘become a pillar of Tottenham’ under Conte before being reduced to a substitute’s role this season, with 80 minutes of action from six league games.

Due to the ‘radical change’ in the midfielder’s situation at the north London club under the current manager, Gazzetta say Juventus have carried out first surveys for a potential deal in January as Massimiliano Allegri likes him ‘a lot’.

It’s said both the Denmark international and his entourage have ‘raised their antennas’ after the contact from the Serie A side.

Højbjerg has gone from being ‘untouchable to superfluous’ at Spurs in a matter of months and doesn’t want to be a substitute in a season leading to the European championship.

The report states the Dane ‘will be available’ in January if the right formula can be found with Tottenham for the transfer.

If Juve were to sign Højbjerg, Gazzetta believe they will bring in a midfielder who can ‘make the difference in Serie A’.

The outlet also states Conte is ‘ready to guarantee for him’ and this seems to be based on the fact that the Italian relied heavily on the player when he was at Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Italian journalist Romeo Agresti told Juventibus, relayed by Calciomercato.it, that Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has doubts about the Dane’s ‘physical condition’.

Højbjerg had an ankle problem in the past and Agresti claims the Old Lady would want to ‘obtain guarantees regarding the physical conditions’ of the player, if they consider making an approach for him in the next window.