Aaron Ramsey has pulled out of Wales’ Nations League clash with Bulgaria on Wednesday in the latest blow to Ryan Giggs side.
The midfielder only returned for last Sunday’s draw against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin after being in a Juventus COVID-19 ‘bubble’ for the friendly against England last week.
Ramsey’s absence means Giggs has now lost five players from his original 27-man squad but he has defended his decision not to bring in any replacements.
David Brooks and Hal Robson-Kanu are sidelined by injury while Cardiff City striker Kieffer Moore and midfielder Joe Morrell are suspended.
Giggs said being in a Covid-19 bubble has made the situation “more problematic” even though other countries had called-up replacements following withdrawals.
But the ex-Manchester United ace insisted he had enough players as Wales look to maintain their place at the top of the group.
“We all got tested (for coronavirus) after the Ireland game on Sunday,” said Giggs.
“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.”
Robson-Kanu was ruled out with a broken arm two days before the friendly at Wembley giving Giggs plenty of time to bring a player into the bubble for the Nations Cup games.
But he 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.”
