Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

HAIR HE GOES AGAIN

Ramsey’s gone blond just like 2016 when he lit up the Euros

- FROM JAMES NURSEY in Doha @Jamesnurse­y

AARON RAMSEY’S return to the blond bombshell look is not as bright as in Euro 2016 – but the Wales midfielder insists he can still be as dazzling.

Ramsey rocked a peroxide look in France six years ago (right) when he produced a series of eye-catching displays.

It helped propel Wales into the semi-finals and Ramsey into the team of the tournament.

Now 31, he is no longer in his prime after a succession of injuries and unsuccessf­ul moves to Juventus and Rangers.

But the former Cardiff City and Arsenal star is back playing at Nice in France in Ligue 1, and he is ready to deliver for his country in Qatar after dyeing his hair again (left) for Wales’ first appearance in the finals in 64 years.

“I just fancied a change again, it is falling out,” said Ramsey, who made his full internatio­nal debut 14 years ago today, while just 17.

“I thought I would do it now before I can’t any more.

“I didn’t want to go as bright as last time. “But I still feel like I am more than capable of producing performanc­es. I never doubt my ability.

“For me, it’s about trying to help my team as much as I can to have a successful tournament.

“I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully I can be in good form and help the team get out of the group.”

When Wales play well it is usually because Ramsey and skipper Gareth Bale both deliver.

The pair have an almost telepathic understand­ing on the pitch as they vividly illustrate­d at the last Euros when they combined to help beat Turkey 2-0 to get out of their group.

Captain and record scorer Bale picked out Ramsey three times to run clear on goal in the first half as the midfielder went close twice before finally opening the scoring.

Now Wales’ deadly duo are aiming to thrive on the biggest stage of all when Rob Page’s side open their Group B campaign against USA on Monday.

Ramsey said: “I love having that opportunit­y to play with Baleo in this Wales

shirt. We have grown up together, we’ve been through all different age groups and things like that so we understand each other and we just try to represent our country as best as we can.

“We try to help as much as we can individual­ly and as a team to try to achieve our goals.

“It’s a joy to play with him and be a part of this with him.”

Together the pair have helped Wales reach successive Euros but inspiring the nation to their first World Cup since 1958 had always been the biggest goal.

With two days to go, the excitement and anticipati­on is palpable.

Ramsey, who was made skipper aged 20 in the late Gary Speed’s first game as boss in 2011, added: “None of us have experience­d a World Cup before so this is going to be different all together. But we have had a few tournament­s that we have been a part of.

“Now we can take certain experience­s from that to help us.

“The reality is we are a small nation and we are up against giants of world football.

“But we are always going to be trying to compete with the best teams.

“We have certainly shown we are capable of doing that over the last few years.

“When Gary Speed first came in, one of the targets was to qualify for that World Cup.

“We didn’t manage to do so under him but this makes it even more special that we have actually gone on to do that now.”

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