‘Big players turn up for big games’: No Wales concerns for Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey

Wales manager Robert Page has no fears over Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey’s limited game-time heading into World Cup play-off action and insisted “big players turn up for big games”.

Skipper Bale and Ramsey head into the semi-final tie against Austria in Cardiff on March 24 following recent injury struggles.

The 100-times capped Bale has only featured twice for Real since the end of August, with his only start coming against Villarreal in LaLiga last month, while Ramsey has started two games for Rangers following his January loan move from Juventus.

“They’re big players for us and of course we want them playing games coming into camp,” Page said after announcing a 26-man squad to take on Austria and prospective friendly opponents five days later.

“But the good thing is they’re both fit, raring to go and can’t wait to get on camp. The big players turn up for big games. They’ve proven that over time and done it time and time again.”

The other semi-final in Path A has been postponed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Scotland and Ukraine will instead play at Hampden in June, with the winners meeting Wales or Austria to determine a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Although Page believes the Scotland-Ukraine postponement benefits Wales in as much as that Bale and Ramsey can focus on one game this month, and not potentially two, he insists the three-month wait to play the final remains a level playing field for all parties.

Asked whether Bale or Ramsey could be undercooked as Wales seek qualification for what would be only a second appearance at the World Cup, Page replied: “Potentially if we had the two games, but not with one.

“We took Aaron to the Czech Republic (in October) and we were concerned about the two