Midfielder Joe Ledley sweating on Wales place for Euro 2016

30 May 2016 12:54

Joe Ledley will discover whether his Euro 2016 fitness fight has proved successful when Wales manager Chris Coleman names his 23-man squad for the finals on Tuesday.

Ledley fractured his left leg playing for Crystal Palace on May 7 and his hopes of playing in France next month seemed over.

But the 62-times capped midfielder joined Wales on their pre-Euros training camp in Portugal last week and was running freely in individual fitness sessions away from the main group.

Wales start their Euro 2016 campaign against Slovakia on June 11 before playing England five days later, and Ledley is expected to miss both those games.

But Coleman has said he will select Ledley if the 29-year-old can show he will be ready for Wales' final group game against Russia in Toulouse on June 20.

"I know my 23 now and the big one is Joe," said Coleman.

"It's just about time length. We are hoping and praying there will be good news.

"It's all on those first three games for us, we can't really think beyond that.

"I've got a duty to the squad of players to consider how we give ourselves the best possible chance of getting out of that group.

"That's a conversation I will have with Joe and the medical team.

"We will look at his chances of playing in those three games and work off that."

UEFA rules state the list of 23 players must be completed online at least 10 days before the opening match of the tournament on June 10.

So it is possible that Coleman could even leave a space in his squad on Tuesday to allow Ledley a few more days to prove his fitness.

"We are going to have a choice. Can we wait a little longer or are we going to run out of time?" said Coleman.

"It's so disappointing for Joe that we are in this position, thinking 'can he or can't he?'

"He has done as much as anyone to get us there and he's important to us on the pitch and off the pitch."

The Wales camp were relieved that star striker Gareth Bale came through Real Madrid's Champions League final victory on Saturday night with nothing more than a severe bout of cramp.

Bale could hardly move d uring the extra time period against Atletico Madrid, but he made it to the penalty shoot-out where he scored from the spot.

The 26-year-old will link up with the rest of the Wales squad at their Vale of Glamorgan base on Tuesday evening.

If Ledley is passed fit, it could come down to a straight fight between David Vaughan, Emyr Huws and David Edwards for one remaining midfield berth.

The experienced Vaughan may start favourite to fill a holding role, but the 22-year-old Huws offers a greater physical presence which could be useful in both attacking and defensive set-piece situations.

Wolves midfielder Edwards is more of an attacking option and Wales are well served in these areas with Jonathan Williams, George Williams and David Cotterill having all made strong cases for inclusion.

Paul Dummett and Adam Matthews are likely to contest a full-back spot, with Coleman expected to go with eight defenders in his 23-man squad.

Back-up goalkeeper Danny Ward missed the end of the season with a knee injury and Preston's Chris Maxwell joined the training camp in Portugal.

But the Liverpool man is expected to be fine to join Wayne Hennessey and Owain Fon Williams as one of Wales' three goalkeepers.

Striker Tom Bradshaw and defender Adam Henley, who were both outsiders to make the squad, miss out after injury forced them to leave the training camp on the Algarve.

Source: PA