Coleman to clear air with Collins

09 October 2013 09:01

Boss Chris Coleman will meet out-of-favour defender James Collins on Wednesday in a bid to patch up their differences and also Wales' injury-hit squad.

Coleman has seen 10 players pull out of his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers matches against Macedonia and Belgium, which could decide whether the 43-year-old retains his position in charge of the Dragons.

Wales have been hardest hit in defence - Ashley Williams withdrew with an ankle problem on Tuesday - but despite that West Ham centre-back Collins has remained on the outside after a dispute over whether or not he rejected the chance to play for his country last month.

Press Association Sport understands, however, that Coleman has agreed to meet Collins in Cardiff on Wednesday after the 41-cap veteran broke their silence with a phone call on Tuesday.

Coleman revealed last week that any resolution would need to be made face to face, and following Collins' contact he has agreed to speak to the player in order to settle their differences.

Should their meeting progress well there is a possibility that Collins could be drafted into the Wales squad in time for the Macedonia game in Cardiff on Friday.

The loss of Williams on Tuesday has left Coleman him with painfully few centre-half options with Chris Gunter and Owain Tudur Jones, normally a midfielder and last capped in May 2011, tipped to start against Macedonia.

Coleman has also seen the world's most expensive player Gareth Bale, Liverpool's Joe Allen, Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley and Brighton's Andrew Crofts withdraw on the day of last Thursday's squad announcement, with the quintet of Adam Matthews, Ben Davies, Danny Gabbidon, Sam Ricketts and Jack Collison following on Monday.

The injury crisis could yet get worse as Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey took no part in training on Tuesday due to a leg injury.

The exclusions have threatened to undermine the end to Craig Bellamy's 15-year international career after the forward announced he would end his time on the international stage after next week's game in Brussels.

Source: PA