World Cup 2022: Wales name injury doubt Joe Allen in 26-man squad

Robert Page has named his 26-man squad for Wales' archetypal World Cup successful 64 years, with midfielder Joe Allen included contempt being a large wounded doubt.

Rhys Norrington-Davies is retired with a hamstring wounded truthful Tom Lockyer is recalled much than a twelvemonth since helium past played for Wales, portion a calf wounded rules retired guardant Tyler Roberts.

Wales look the United States successful their opening World Cup lucifer connected 21 November.

They are joined successful Group B by Iran and England, who sanction their squad connected Thursday.

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Page had antecedently indicated helium had already decided connected the bulk of the 26 players helium would beryllium taking to Qatar, and that was evident astatine Wednesday's announcement successful his hometown of Tylorstown successful the Rhondda vale arsenic helium stuck to a tried and trusted squad.

His biggest wounded interest is influential midfielder Allen, who is named successful the squad contempt not playing for Swansea City since injuring his hamstring successful September.

Swans caput manager Russell Martin has confirmed Allen volition not play for the Championship broadside earlier the World Cup, but Wales inactive anticipation the 32-year-old volition beryllium capable to play immoderate portion successful Qatar, adjacent if helium is not acceptable capable to commencement against the United States.

"It's not perfect if I'm honorable but we're giving him each accidental to get him acceptable to get into the starting XI for the archetypal game," said Page.

"There's a mates of different players successful a akin vessel but Joe's been truthful important to maine wide the past mates of years, however I privation to play and however helium sits successful beforehand of the backmost four.

"He's 1 of those from 2016 [European Championship] erstwhile they had the occurrence and erstwhile helium was playing truly well, Wales were winning games.

"Again he's earned the close to beryllium there. I spoke to him 2 days agone and he's successful a affirmative framework of caput and looking guardant to it."

There is amended quality regarding skipper Bale, who has astatine slightest been playing for his nine side, Los Angeles FC.

However, the 33-year-old said helium was "not 100%" fit aft scoring a important precocious extremity successful LAFC's MLS Cup last triumph implicit Philadelphia Union past weekend.

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The erstwhile Real Madrid subordinate has made conscionable 2 starts - positive 11 substitute appearances - for LAFC since joining the American nine successful June.

Bale has been integral to Wales' caller occurrence - they person qualified for 3 of the past 4 large tournaments having reached lone 1 earlier that - and volition beryllium their talisman erstwhile much astatine the World Cup.

"Ideally would we privation him to play much minutes? Of course," said Page.

"Am I worried? No, due to the fact that he's shown clip and clip again that irrespective of however galore minutes he's played astatine nine level helium ever comes successful and has important moments successful the game, whether it's a free-kick against Austria oregon Ukraine [in the World Cup play-off semi-final and final].

"Big players measurement up for large occasions . We've said it with Aaron [Ramsey] successful the past - Hungary astatine location erstwhile helium got 2 goals for america - and it's nary antithetic with Gareth.

"Opposing managers volition look astatine the squad expanse and if they spot his sanction they cognize astatine immoderate infinitesimal helium tin triumph a crippled for you."

Along with Bale and Allen, goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey and Danny Ward, defenders Ben Davies and Chris Gunter and midfielders Ramsey and Jonny Williams are the players who volition beryllium representing Wales successful a 3rd large tournament, having played astatine the past 2 European Championships.

Nottingham Forest guardant Brennan Johnson, Cardiff City attacker Mark Harris and Huddersfield Town winger Sorba Thomas volition beryllium going to their archetypal large tournament.

"The worst portion of this occupation is disappointing the ones that are not successful the 26," said Page.

"The others I've not phoned to archer them they're in, I'd alternatively them spot it erstwhile [it is announced].

"That's going to beryllium bully for them to spot but connected the different broadside of it there's ever going to beryllium idiosyncratic who's disappointed.

"I've had a mates of uncomfortable conversations - immoderate done injury, immoderate done choice.

"We've got to determination guardant present and prime the squad that volition spell and vie and spell and triumph america games."

Wales squad

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City).

Defenders: Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Rennes, connected indebtedness from Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, connected indebtedness from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town).

Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Matthew Smith (Milton Keynes Dons), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town).

Forwards: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Dan James (Fulham, connected indebtedness from Leeds United), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest).

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