COLEMAN REVEALS HIS WELSH WORLD CUP HOPEFULS:
WALES BOSS COLEMAN BACKS HIS FORMER ASSISTANT TO MAKE IMPACT AT BLUEBIRDS
CHRIS Coleman has backed Paul Trollope to be a success at Cardiff City as he prepares to name Kit Symons as his replacement in the Wales set-up.
Trollope stepped down from his role in order to full focus on his Bluebirds duties, while goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, who also combined international and club roles, has joined Sam Allardyce at England.
He will continue in his Cardiff post and while joking that his cross-border switch may not ‘sit well’ with some, Coleman hailed both for their part in helping Wales reach the semi-final of Euro 2016.
He said: “Paul did a great job, Cardiff have got a very good manager there, if they give him time and backing.
“I want to wish Martyn all the best, he’s a top fella and the work he has done for us has been top class.”
Coleman also backed Cardiff City new boy Emyr Huws to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the final squad for France after recalling him for the clash with Moldova on September 4th.
Aaron Ramsey will miss that game and, with David Vaughan announcing his retirement from international football, Huws will be in contention for action.
Coleman said: “Emyr was very disappointed not to make the squad and it was really close, he’s a good player. I told him he’ll have his opportunities, they’ll come in this campaign.”
As for Vaughan’s decision to call it a day, Coleman revealed the Nottingham Forest playmaker’s decision had been on the cards for a while.
“He told me what he was thinking when we got back,” Coleman added.
“I tried to talk him out of it because he’s been with us for so long and still has quality, but he wants to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his club career, because he’s had knocks.
“If he did change his mind the door would be open for him.”
While Vaughan will no longer be available for selection, one player who looks set to be crucial for the Wales side going forward is Hal RobsonKanu, although the free agent striker is yet to secure a deal with a new club.
Having decided to run his contract down at Reading, Robson-Kanu’s gamble has paid off in spectacular fashion after a starring role for Wales at the Euros, culminating in his ‘Cruyff turn’ stunner against the Belgians in the quarter-finals, has prompted a scramble of interest in his services.
Robson-Kanu is believed to have received offers from clubs in England, Spain, Italy and France following his impressive summer.
Crystal Palace, Hull, Swansea and Watford have all been linked with moves for the 27-year-old, while he is also believed to have been offered bumper wages from Chinese Super League clubs.
He is now prepared to wait until after the transfer window closes before making his mind up on which option to take in early September, but his international boss is keen for him to reach a verdict sooner rather than later.
“I’d like to see Hal settled, but if he’s not 100 percent comfortable with the options.
It’s the sooner the better focus, he had an incredible campaign but he’s got to the best for Hal and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Meanwhile, boss Coleman was also thrilled to see his side’s talisman, Gareth Bale, get the new league season off to a storming start among the mega-stars at Real Madrid.
His brace at Anoeta made all the difference for Real, as the team claimed its first three points of the season.
With two minutes on the clock, the Welshman showcased his aerial prowess to power home a Dani Carvajal cross.
The opener at Anoeta was Bale’s sixteenth headed goal as a Real Madrid player, representing 27% of his 60 goals for the club.
“There’s no surprise, scoring after about 75 seconds,” said Coleman.
“He’s capable of almost anything, I think Madrid are very excited about the future with him.
“They recognise they’ve got someone who will be there for a while and is capable of winning everything.
“He’s got the first class mentality, everybody wins.
Meanwhile, former Bluebird Tom Lawrence edged Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw out of the squad despite not being in the first team picture at Leicester City.
Having returned from his loan spell at Cardiff, he has yet to feature in a match day squad for the Premier League champions.
With the emergency loan system scrapped this season, he may have to find a temporary switch before the transfer window shuts next Wednesday
if he is to underline his international credentials in the long-term.
Wales squad v Moldova: W Hennessey (Crystal Palace), D Ward (Liverpool, on loan at Huddersfield Town), O Fon Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), B Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), J Chester (Aston Villa), J Collins (West Ham United), C Gunter (Reading), J Richards (Cardiff City), N Taylor (Swansea City), P Dummett (Newcastle United), A Williams (Everton), J Allen (Stoke City), D Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), A King (Leicester City), J Ledley (Crystal Palace), E Huws (Cardiff City), T Lawrence (Leicester City) G Williams (Fulham - on loan at MK Dons), G Bale (Real Madrid), S Church (MK Dons), D Cotterill (Birmingham City), H Robson-Kanu (Unattached), S Vokes (Burnley).