Daily Mirror

McLEISH ‘IN PAIN’

- BY SIMON BIRD @SimonBird_ BY KEITH JACKSON

RYAN GIGGS has ordered Wales to improve their poor record without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey – and go all out to “excite” him against Republic of Ireland tonight.

The Manchester United legend will field a line-up depleted of stars, with Bale back at Real Madrid nursing a minor injury and Ramsey in London celebratin­g the birth of twins.

Wales have won only three competitiv­e games without Bale since his debut in 2006.

And since Ramsey emerged they’ve never been without both star players in a meaningful game, stiffening the test they face to repeat their victory over Ireland last month.

Giggs said: “The job is to make that record a bit better. It is not easy but we still have players who can make things happen.

“Any team will miss a player like Gareth Bale. But it has happened before and will happen again in the future. I will give young players a chance and it is up to them to take it.

“Ireland won’t lie down and let you play football. You win your battles, individual­ly and as a team, then you can pass the ball, take players on, excite me, excite the fans.

“I want the fans going back excited, liking what they have seen. But you need to do the hard things first.”

Giggs wants his experience­d stars, including skipper Ashley Williams and Ben Davies, to help young talent like winger David Brooks pass the Nations League test with flying colours. He wants the old-stagers to give the kids the guidance he got as a teenager from former United team-mates Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Paul Ince.

Giggs added: “It is not just about the young players. Experience can help when you have to tough it out for 90 minutes.

“It is a balance in your team. Younger players can inspire the older ones but the older ones have done it.

“At United we were helped by the older players, like Bruce, Robson, Ince, and (Brian) McClair. When youngsters are flying you leave them. When they have a bad patch then you help them.”

Bale was effectivel­y ruled out last week but Giggs expects him to play for Real at the weekend. He said: “Play him and you run the risk of a bigger injury.” On Ramsey’s reason for going home, Giggs said: “Good news, he has had two additions to the family. Huge congratula­tions to Rambo.”

Last month Wales were brilliant in demolishin­g Martin O’Neill’s side 4-1 and Giggs says that is now their “benchmark” performanc­e.

He added: “Our standard was set.That is what I am looking for.

“If we win we are top and have an excellent chance of topping the group at the end of it. That was our aim. It just shows the positivity of the Nations League. Tight groups, really competitiv­e.”

Spurs defender Davies reckons Wales can still shine without their star duo. “We have to believe in the quality we have coming through,” he said. Live on Sky Sports from 7pm door of the Nations League. The stinging attacks were ramped up again on Sunday when his team went down to a sixth loss in eight – 3-1 at home against a second-string Portugal. He said: “You feel as if the world is caving in on you. You pick yourself up. I know we’re coming under fire.” (7.45 unless stated)

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE League A, Group 1

France v Germany

League B, Group 1

Ukraine v Czech Republic League B, Group 4

Rep of Ireland v Wales

League C, Group 3

Norway v Bulgaria Slovenia v Cyprus

League D, Group 1

Kazakhstan v Andorra (3) Latvia v Georgia

League D, Group 4

Armenia v FYR Macedonia (5) Gibraltar v Liechtenst­ein INTERNATIO­NAL FRIENDLIES Belgium v Holland

Brazil v Argentina (7) Denmark v Austria Sweden v Slovakia

EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSH­IP QUALIFYING Group 2

N Ireland U21 v Slovakia U21 (7.30) Group 4

Scotland U21 v England U21 (5.30) Group 5

Germany U21 v Rep of Ireland U21 (5.15)

Group 8

Wales U21 v Switzerlan­d U21 (6) EFL TROPHY

Bury v Leicester U21

Port Vale v Middlesbro­ugh U21 EVO-STIK PREMIER CENTRAL Barwell v Banbury Coalville Town v Halesowen Leiston v King’s Lynn Town Needham Market v Lowestoft Redditch v Rushall Olympic Royston Town v St Neots Town St Ives Town v Biggleswad­e Tamworth v Kettering

BOSTIK PREMIER

AFC Hornchurch v Lewes Bognor Regis Town v Folkestone Burgess Hill v Wingate & Finchley Enfield v Brightling­sea Regent EVO-STIK PREMIER NORTH Farsley Celtic v Bamber Bridge Grantham v Nantwich Town Hednesford v Lancaster City Hyde United v South Shields Mickleover Sports v Matlock Scarboroug­h Athletic v Buxton Workington v Whitby

EVO-STIK PREMIER SOUTH Basingstok­e v Hartley Wintney Beaconsfie­ld v Chesham Utd Dorchester v Taunton Gosport Borough v Poole Town Kings Langley v Hendon

Met Police v Harrow Borough Salisbury FC v Merthyr Town Swindon v Farnboroug­h Tiverton v Weymouth Walton Casuals v Staines Town Wimborne Town v Frome Town JD WELSH PREMIER

Connah’s Quay v Cefn Druids

2nd TEST (day 1 of 5) Abu Dhabi: Pakistan v Australia (7)

 ??  ?? ALEX McLEISH admits it feels like the world has caved in on him as Scotland reel from a terrible week of losses.McLeish, 59, (right) has come under fire since Thursday’s 2-1 defeat in Israel which has hurt his chances of qualifying for Euro 2020 from the side
ALEX McLEISH admits it feels like the world has caved in on him as Scotland reel from a terrible week of losses.McLeish, 59, (right) has come under fire since Thursday’s 2-1 defeat in Israel which has hurt his chances of qualifying for Euro 2020 from the side

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