MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 22:38:28| >> :60:1:1:

Ryan Giggs explains Ben Davies absence

The Tottenham defender will see a specialist after Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool.

Tottenham defender Ben Davies heads into the Champions League final facing the prospect of summer surgery and will sit out Wales' Euro 2020 qualifiers in Croatia and Hungary.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs revealed Davies has been troubled by a groin issue this season but he has battled on, with Spurs' historic campaign ending in Saturday's European showpiece occasion against Liverpool in Madrid.

"Ben has had an issue with his groin throughout the season," Giggs said as he named a 28-man squad also without injured Juventus-bound midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

"I left Ben out of the squad back in November (for a friendly against Albania) to give him a bit of a rest because he's played a lot of football.

"It was more of a fatigue element, but Tottenham have done so well this season he's needed to play.

"He can play, he can get away with it. But it's more about him getting it right.

"He's not happy with it and he's got a huge game this weekend. After that game he's going to see the specialist and get it right for next season.

Ben Davies, left
Ben Davies, left, has struggled through a demanding season (John Walton/PA)

"It's important for me and Tottenham that he sorts it. He's fit to play on Saturday, but we talked and he's not quite happy with it.

"He's just been getting through the games, but he's not 100 per cent and he wants to get it sorted."

Ramsey's absence was expected as the midfielder has not played since damaging a hamstring against Napoli on April 18.

The 28-year-old did not travel to Azerbaijan for Arsenal's Europa League final against Chelsea, but Giggs expects him to be available for the start of Juventus' pre-season training.

Aaron Ramsey, left, and Gareth Bale
Aaron Ramsey, left, misses out but Gareth Bale is in the squad (Joe Giddens/PA)

Gareth Bale, who finished the season out of favour at Real Madrid, is available, however, and Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu returns after a back problem.

Swansea winger Daniel James, who has been strongly linked with a £15million move to Manchester United, also features in the squad following the death of his father, Kevan.

James missed Wales' training camp in Portugal last week after being granted compassionate leave, but Giggs said it was the 21-year-old's choice to be included in a party that sees surprise call-ups for Barnsley pair Ben Williams and Kieffer Moore, Swansea defender Joe Rodon and Manchester United youngster Dylan Levitt.

"Obviously it's terrible what has happened," Giggs said.

"I spoke to Dan, he is really keen to meet up, he is really keen to be involved in the games.

"He rang me, he wants to be involved, he wants to be part of the two games.

"We will see how he is when he meets up but he is really keen to meet up and play."

Asked if United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his former Old Trafford team-mate, had asked him for his view on the speedster, Giggs said: "You don't need to speak to me to see the quality Dan has had, especially from the turn of the year.

Daniel James
Daniel James is a reported target for Manchester United (Nick Potts/PA)

"It has been well documented. The transfer breaking down with Leeds, the week after they (Swansea) played Leeds away and he played really well.

"From then really he has kicked on. For me, in the last game, he was fantastic.

"He is a talent and when you have speed like that as well as the temperament that he has, he could play anywhere."

Wales squad: Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Ward (Leicester), A Davies (Barnsley), A Williams (Everton), Taylor (Aston Villa), Mepham (Bournemouth), Gunter (Reading), Roberts (Swansea), B Williams (Barnsley), Ampadu (Chelsea), Rodon (Swansea), Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), J Lawrence (Anderlecht), Allen (Stoke), J Williams (Charlton), Vaulks (Rotherham), Brooks (Bournemouth), Smith (Manchester City), Levitt (Manchester United), James (Swansea), Bale (Real Madrid), Woodburn (Liverpool), Wilson (Liverpool), T Lawrence (Derby), Matondo (Schalke 04), Thomas (Leicester), Vokes (Stoke), Moore (Barnsley).

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Phil Blanche, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '687319ed-8cc3-4a1c-9035-b701e2069315');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Davies misses Wales qualifiers to undergo groin surgery'});

ID:360597: cacheID:360597:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:12642:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring against the Republic of Ireland on September 6, 2018
Read Next:
Gareth Bale in but Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies out of Wales squad
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!