JUVE GOT TO GO
Page tells Ramsey to leave Italian giants
WALES want their top stars like Aaron Ramsey to consider changing clubs in January – to be match fit for the World Cup play-offs.
Midfielder Ramsey has started just once for Juventus this season and is one of several Wales players who are not playing regularly for their clubs.
Others include Spurs defender Joe Rodon, Liverpool full-back Neco Williams, Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and Bournemouth centre-back Chris Mepham.
Wales clinched second spot in Group E and a home play-off semifinal in March with a memorable 1-1 draw at home to Belgium on Tuesday night after beating Belarus 5-1 at the weekend with two goals from Ramsey.
Manager Rob Page wants his stars as sharp as possible for the play-offs as they aim to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.
Page said: “Aaron is playing the best football in my opinion. Just watching him in training puts a smile on my face.
“The players want to be playing football, how can they not?
“When you have come off and you have played really well and you listen to the supporters, you can’t buy that.
“They will want to recreate that week in, week out. For whatever reason domestically they don’t – that is fine, every manager has his own opinions. I can’t influence that. All I can influence is encouraging the players to want to go and play football, whether it is at their parent club or elsewhere.
“That is what we are encouraging them to do. When you have got the creativity we have in the team and the goals we can score, you want them all playing and to be in the best possible shape for Wales.”
Wales held Belgium despite captain Gareth Bale being unavailable after only returning on Saturday after two months out with a hamstring tear.
Page insists the Real Madrid superstar is expected to be fully fit for the play-offs.
He said: “Gareth will be fine in March. It is just a minor problem.
“It would have been too risky to throw him back in after the length of time he has had off.
“It could probably have done longerterm damage which would have had an impact in March.”
An emotional Page wiped away tears when he held a post-match huddle with his squad.
He added: “I was a gibbering wreck really, telling the players how proud I am. I think I was emotional because of the pressure that has been on.
“This is what the game does to you. I daren’t think what I could be like if we make it to Qatar.”