PAGE: I MUST USE KIEFFER MORE
ROB PAGE admitted he learned a lesson after Wales salvaged a point in their opener and is ready to make changes against Iran.
The Welsh boss accepted it was a mistake not starting Kieffer Moore (inset) in Monday’s 1-1 draw with USA. Bournemouth striker Moore is set to begin Friday’s second Group B game against Iran which Wales must win to give themselves the best possible chance of making the knockout stages.
“Lessons have been learned from this,” said Page.
“So we’ll have a plan. It was important that we didn’t lose the game.
“Kieffer came on and made an impact. I started with Dan James because I thought his pace, with the two centre-backs, he could get either side but he wasn’t as effective as I’d like him to have been. “We had to get Kieffer on, to get us up the pitch, and he made a massive difference.
“The good thing is that if you look on the bench we’ve got Brennan Johnson playing in the Premier League, he can come on and make an impact. “We’ve got strength in depth. I look over my shoulder at the bench and we’ve got players who can come on and have a real impact on the game.”
Page acknowledged England are the favourites to win the group.
But he insists that the battle for second place is wide open.
Page added: “USA are second favourites but there’ll be a few surprises along the way.
“And we’ve just got to plan for a tough game on Friday and see where that takes us going into the England game.”