Wales midfielder Dave Edwards has backed Joe Allen to lead their nation to the World Cup playoffs in the absence of Gareth Bale.
Star man Bale has been ruled out of the fixtures with Georgia and Republic of Ireland with a calf injury at a time when the Dragons need to win their final two matches.
However, Reading's Edwards has tipped Stoke City midfielder Allen to fill the void left by Bale and "carry" the team to November's two-legged playoffs.
The 31-year-old is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "I'd want to have Joe Allen in that midfield every day of the week. I think he's one of the best midfielders in Europe, I really do.
"I watch him train and he's something else. The way he can carry a team in the way he's done in previous games for Wales has shown he's become as integral to us as Gareth is."
Wales are yet to suffer defeat in eight games in Group D.
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