Chris Coleman has wasted no time in bringing Aaron Ramsey back into his Wales squad – but suggested it remains only a remote possibility that Ched Evans could ever return.
Coleman included Ramsey – as well as fit again Joe Allen and Jonny Williams – in the group named to face Serbia in next week’s World Cup qualifier.
Ramsey played 75 minutes of Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Ludogorets in Bulgaria on Tuesday night – his first start since the opening day of the season following a hamstring injury.
In-form Stoke midfielder Allen also returns after missing the disappointing 1-1 draw against Georgia last month with another hamstring problem.
But at his first press briefing since Evans was found not guilty of rape earlier this month, Coleman made it clear that the Chesterfield striker was unlikely to resume his international career in the near future, if ever.
Coleman described the circumstances outlined at Evans’ trial as “unsavoury” and added: “I can’t be a hypocrite. When he was convicted I said we would not visit the idea, but now he has been set free. Whatever he was seen as, he is not seen as that now.”
“But from a football perspective, a lot needs to happen. He has missed a lot of football.
“I don’t know Ched personally – I’ve never met the boy. He was playing at a certain level before this situation occurred, and now he is playing at a different level.”
Evans won 13 caps for Wales before he was originally convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a Premier Inn near Rhyl, North Wales, in May 2011.
The former Manchester City and Sheffield United striker served two-and-a-half years of a five-year prison sentence before his conviction was quashed, and he was acquited following a re-trial.
Evans has resumed his career at Sky Bet League One club Chesterfield, and the 27-year-old has scored four times in 12 appearances for the Spireites.
But Coleman indicated he needs to be playing at a higher level to come into contention for Wales.
Given that Chesterfield are some way off from looking likely to make the Premier League and the unlikely prospect of current Premier League clubs accepting all the publicity that could with signing Evans, it would appear an international return is no more than a faint possibility.
Coleman added: “Since he has been away, a lot has happened to this team. There are a lot of players in front of him.
“I look at it now from a football perspective, and the boys I am looking at compete at a level we need them to compete at if we are to continue where we have been in the last two or three years.
“If anyone is going to make an impact on that, they need to be at least playing at the highest level and doing the business at the highest level.”
Coleman called the playmaker Ramsey’s inclusion a “no-brainer” despite his limited action this season.
“He played 75 minutes last night, and he looks fit,” Coleman said.
“It was a no-brainer. He is a huge part of what we are trying to do – a massive part of that with the talent he possesses.
“It was pleasing to see he got so much game-time, and he got an assist for the second goal, so that’s fantastic for us.
“We have never taken risks with players, and we wouldn’t with Aaron.
“With somebody as good as Aaron, something is better than nothing, but we will have to wait and see after this weekend.”
.Allen is Stoke’s top marksman with four goals and has also scored in his last two Wales appearances, against Moldova and Austria.
Coleman also expressed his delight that star man Gareth Bale had put to paper on a six-year contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
“That’s where he belongs – he belongs at that level. He belongs in that spotlight,” Coleman said.
“When he first moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid, I said then he would get better and better, and he has.
“Two Champions Leagues in three years is an unbelievable return.
“You have to look at him as probably the most successful player to come from this way to go that way (abroad). To do what he has done is absolutely amazing.
“If you could put together a player with all the best attributes, he’s got them all. He is only going to get better.
“I think it is a great signing for Madrid, and it is obviously great for Gareth, because they are a fantastic football club.”
