Ryan Giggs confident Wales have enough options despite withdrawals

Republic of Ireland v Wales – UEFA Nations League – Group 4 – League B – Aviva Stadium
(Image credit: Brian Lawless)

Ryan Giggs has defended his decision not to strengthen Wales’ squad after losing four players for the Nations League clash with Bulgaria in Sofia.

Wales have lost four players from their original 27-man squad and are short of forward options with David Brooks, Kieffer Moore and Hal Robson-Kanu dropping out alongside suspended midfielder Joe Morrell.

Giggs says being in a Covid-19 bubble has made the situation “more problematic”, although other countries have called up players after being hit by withdrawals.

But Wales manager Giggs insists he has enough players at his disposal without attempting to draft others in to bolster his squad.

“We all got tested (for coronavirus) after the Ireland game on Sunday,” Giggs said.

“After that it would have been very difficult (to bring players in). Players would have had fly to Dublin and then Bulgaria.

“We just have to deal with the players we’ve got, which is fine.”

Wales v Denmark – UEFA Nations League – Group B4 – Cardiff City Stadium

Bournemouth’s David Brooks will be a big miss for Wales in Bulgaria on Wednesday (Mike Egerton/PA)

Asked if he should have called up a replacement when Robson-Kanu was ruled out with a broken arm two days before last Thursday’s England friendly, Giggs said: “We had 26 players so that was fine.

“I felt with Dan James, Harry Wilson and Brooksy not involved in the England game that they would be three new players coming into two games.

“So we felt we were fine in that respect.

“It has been more problematic because of the Covid situation. But that wasn’t solely the reason, we felt we had enough players.”