Wales manager John Toshack says Aaron Ramsey will make his senior debut in Wednesday's friendly with Denmark.
Toshack added that Boaz Myhill is set to start in goal in Brondby, although this is an agreed rotation, not because Wayne Hennessey is out of Wolves' team.The debut of Arsenal's £5m midfielder Ramsey, 17, is Wales' most eagerly awaited since Ryan Giggs in 1991."We've obviously watched his progress since he's gone to Arsenal," Toshack told BBC Sport Wales."He didn't have too many full matches at Cardiff."Talented West Ham youngster Jack Collison is also expected to feature in the Wales midfield against Denmark and in an as-yet unconfirmed friendly in February. 606: DEBATECould Aaron Ramsey be one day as good as Ryan Giggs?"I think this is a time now for both of these players to be involved with us and to start maybe getting a little bit more match time with us," said Toshack."They will be involved with us in these two friendly games and then when the next two competitive games come... in March... we hope that particularly Aaron will be a lot further down the line then... hopefully he'll be ready to come in then."Toshack conceded that he was still unclear on the role that Ramsey will take in Wales' midfield of the future."It's a case of looking at him [and] looking at the qualities of the other players that we've got as well."This team, really, you won't see the best of them for another five-to-six years and I wouldn't expect to be around then. There are two parts to being a midfield player, when you have got the ball and when you haven'tWales assistant coach Dean Saunders"I would [then] expect them to be able to qualify not just for one but for two or three tournaments."Wales assistant Dean Saunders told Ramsey on Thursday that he must "live up" to the hype built by his sublime displays - and goals - for Arsenal and the Welsh under-21 team."Expectation is high but when you cost that much money, you've got to live up to it," said Saunders."That's part of the price on the ticket. There is huge excitement and expectation but that is because he is a class act."Midfielder Ramsey's impressive performances for Championship side Cardiff City's in their incredible run to the FA Cup final sparked interest from the biggest clubs in Europe, let alone England.Arsenal won the bidding war from old foes Manchester United so Ramsey joined the Emirates Stadium club under the expert tuition of Arsene Wenger, a manager renowned for transforming potential into world-class quality.The playmaker - described by Welsh youth guru Brian Flynn as a "Rolls Royce of a player" - has since impressed in his occasional displays for the Gunners.And his excellent performance against Wigan in Arsenal's midweek Carling Cup win pleased Saunders."Aaron played great for Arsenal the other day," said Wales boss John Toshack's right hand man."He is still only 17 and is coming on but he is looking a class act."He is at a great club with a tradition of producing wonderful footballers who can pass the ball around teams for fun."Aaron is being taught how to be a midfield player; he is looks great on the ball."But there are two parts to being a midfield player, when you have got the ball and when you haven't. He has to learn both sides of that and Arsene Wenger will teach him that."Then when he comes away with us, we add something to him as well."Ramsey will join a Wales squad for the second time, but he did not play in the summer friendlies against Iceland and the Netherlands.He is in Toshack's 21-man squad alongside fellow teenagers Ched Evans, Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale and Sam Vokes.Man-of-the-match Ramsey stole the show in Wales' Under-21 play-off second-leg against a strong England side at Villa Park last month.He scored a stunning 30-yard volley before his superb pass set a goal for Simon Church but it wasn't enough as England went through due to an aggregate win.Ramsey's former Cardiff team-mate Joe Ledley returns after missing Wales last two World Cup qualifiers with a groin injury.But there is no place in the squad for Coventry striker Freddy Eastwood, while Rob Earnshaw is injured.Collison is promoted after breaking into the first team at Upton Park and the 20-year-old scored his first Premier League goal in the Hammers 3-1 defeat to Everton earlier this month.Oldham defender Neal Eardley is also back, but Sheffield United striker David Cotterill and Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson both miss out.With six key players out with injuries, Denmark coach Morten Olsen will give striker Patrick Mtiliga and midfielder Ken Ilso a chance.Olsen will be without Jon Dahl Tomasson, Christian Poulsen, Daniel Jensen, Martin Jorgensen and Lars Jacobsen.Veteran defender Martin Laursen (knee) and midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg (personal reasons) will also miss the friendly.But goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen, midfielder Leon Andreasen and strikers Dennis Rommedahl, Soren Larsen and Ramsey's Arsenal teammate Nicklas Bendtner are all included.Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Boaz Myhill (Hull City), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), James Collins (West Ham), Neal Eardley (Oldham), Chris Gunter (Tottenham), Craig Morgan (Peterborough), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Ashley Williams (Swansea), Jack Collison (West Ham), Simon Davies (Fulham), David Edwards (Wolves), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Jason Koumas (Wigan), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), David Vaughan (Blackpool), Craig Bellamy (West Ham), Ched Evans (Man City), Sam Vokes (Wolves).Denmark squad: Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen), Thomas, Sorensen (Stoke City), Anders Moller Christensen (Odense), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Kasper Bogelund (Aalborg), Patrick Mtiliga (NAC Breda), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Thomas Rasmussen (Brondby), Hjalte Bo Norregaard (FC Copenhagen), Ken Ilso (SonderjyskE), Leon Andreasen (Fulham), Martin Retov, (Hansa Rostock), Martin Vingaard (Esbjerg), Thomas Kristensen (FC Copenhagen), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby), Morten Nordstrand (FC Copenhagen), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (Toulouse). i think this will be interesting |
發表於 2008-11-15 12:17 AM
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