Don’t worry about cards, Coleman warns Wales

CHRIS COLEMAN has told Wales players one booking from a ban to forget about the possibility of missing the showdown with the Republic of Ireland and concentrate on Georgia.

Seven members of Coleman’s squad are close to suspension, but the Wales manager says his side cannot hold anything back in Tbilisi.

So tight is qualification for the Russia World Cup that Wales might need to win both remaining matches to guarantee a place in next month’s play-offs.

Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Joe Ledley, James Chester, Andy King and Hal Robson-Kanu would be banned for the Ireland game in Cardiff on Monday with a caution against Georgia.

Coleman said: ‘What we can’t do is go into it on thin ice, because we then won’t get what we need to get. So if somebody gets another yellow and misses the second game, so be it.

‘But it’s not about the second game — it doesn’t exist yet. It’s all about the first game. Whoever is on a yellow needs to go into the game with a clear mind because we have enough quality and quantity to see us through.’

Coleman’s plans have been seriously hampered by the loss of Gareth Bale through a calf injury but 17-year-old Ben Woodburn’s impact has provided a boost and he is in contention for his first Wales start.