ROB HAS EYES ON PLAYERS
ROB PAGE will be keeping close contact with Wales players throughout the winter as the country prepares for its day of destiny in the World Cup play-offs.
The interim boss is leaving no stone unturned ahead of their showdown with Austria next March and intends to visit each of his squad to ram home the importance of staying in top shape.
Wales have not qualified for a World Cup since 1958 and only the Austrians – and potentially Scotland or Ukraine – stand in their way.
Page says that keeping abreast of any fitness issues will be vital.
He said: “I will be visiting the players. I’ll be speaking to them constantly, particularly with regard to their fitness, I’ll be keeping my finger on the pulse.
“We can’t control everything, we can’t control injuries, but we will definitely be speaking to them.
“It’s what we dreamed of as young boys. Growing up, I always wanted to be part of World Cup qualification and a World Cup. We’re now just two wins away from it.”
World Cup qualification remains the holy grail for the Wales international team.
But they have qualified for the past two European Championships – reaching the semi-final five years ago – and Page believes that has played a crucial part in getting them to the play-off stage.
“In 2016, Chris Coleman would be the first one to admit we overachieved,” he added. “With that came raised expectations for the next campaign.
“The plan is to qualify for major tournaments. We have done that twice in the Euros. It breeds success.
“When you’ve got a record like that – and with the record we have at home – then you grow in confidence.
“It’s important we keep building. We have won the Nations League – gone from Group B to Group A.
“We’ll be giving it everything to make sure we cross the line and finish off the job.”