‘Growing pains’ hit Ampadu

Wales manager Ryan Giggs says Ethan Ampadu is a victim of growing pains after the Chelsea midfielder dealt a blow to his European Championship plans.

Ampadu has been ruled out of Wales’ opening Euro 2020 qualifier at home to Slovakia on Sunday with a back problem after failing to link up with the squad for the friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.

Aaron Ramsey will also miss that Wrexham friendly tonight with what Giggs has termed as “a slight knock to his thigh”, but the Arsenal midfielder is expected to be fit for the Slovakia game.

Ampadu, however, will miss both games and Giggs has drawn parallels with the 18-year-old’s injury problems to those once suffered by former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

“He reminds me of Steven because he’s still growing,” Giggs said. “Every time we meet up I think he’s grown, or I’ve shrunk - one of the two!

“He’s growing out, he’s growing up, but he’s at that stage when he’s growing in between playing and not playing.

“I think that’s the main issue. Steven Gerrard had it, and a couple of players had it when they’re still growing, they pick up these little knocks and strains.”

Giggs said Ampadu had “felt his back” before Chelsea’s Europa League victory away to Dynamo Kiev last week.

The injury was scanned on his return from Ukraine and the teenager is expected to be out for a couple of weeks.

It is the latest blow in what has been a frustrating campaign for Ampadu, who has started only three games under Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge this season.