By Gareth James
Aaron Ramsey has been included in Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off squad, despite not starting a match for six months.
The 84-times capped Wales skipper suffered a knee injury in September and was out until February, making two substitute appearances for Cardiff City before picking up a calf complaint.
Despite Ramsey playing only 72 minutes since September 16, manager Rob Page has named the 33-year-old midfielder in a 28-man squad as Wales seek to qualify for a third successive European Championship and fourth major tournament in five.
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Cardiff manager Erol Bulut had previously stated that Ramsey would not be fit enough to play in either play-off match for Wales.
Wales host Finland in a Euro 2024 play-off semi-final in Cardiff on March 21, with the winners at home against Estonia or Poland five days later to determine a place in Germany this summer.
Ramsey, speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday about his playing return, said: “It’s coming along. Hopefully I’ll be back out on the grass next week.
“I’m optimistic and hopefully I’ll get back on that pitch as soon as possible.
“These play-off games at home are vital. We’ve had so much success of late over the last four tournaments.
“The expectation is on us now to keep qualifying for these tournaments.”
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There are also recalls for Adam Davies, Charlie Savage, Dylan Levitt, Josh Low, Rabbi Matondo, Rubin Colwill and Wes Burns in an enlarged squad.
Low replaces Tom Lockyer, who played in Wales’ last Euro 2024 qualifier against Turkey in November.
Luton defender Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in a Premier League game at Bournemouth in December.
Reading midfielder Savage and in-form Cardiff forward Colwill join Wycombe defender Low in being promoted from Matty Jones’ under-21 squad.
Burns, Davies, Levitt and Matondo are recalled with Joe Morrell, Niall Huggins and Tom Bradshaw missing out through injury.
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Full squad: W Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), D Ward (Leicester), T King (Wolves), A Davies (Sheff Utd), B Davies (Tottenham), J Rodon (Leeds, on loan from Tottenham), J Low (Wycombe), C Mepham (Bournemouth), B Cabango (Swansea), N Williams (Nottingham Forest), J Dasilva (Coventry), C Roberts (Leeds, on loan from Burnley), W Burns (Ipswich), E Ampadu (Leeds), J Sheehan (Bolton), D Levitt (Hibernian), J James (Birmingham), C Savage (Reading), A Ramsey (Cardiff, capt), H Wilson (Fulham), R Matondo (Rangers), D Brooks (Southampton, on loan from Bournemouth), D James (Leeds), N Broadhead (Ipswich), L Cullen (Swansea), R Colwill (Cardiff), B Johnson (Tottenham), K Moore (Ipswich, on loan from Bournemouth).
