Joe Ledley looks set to win his fight to be fit for Euro 2016 just three weeks after breaking his left leg.
Wales manager Chris Coleman names his 23-man squad for the finals on Tuesday afternoon and appears ready to gamble on Ledley – even though the Crystal Palace midfielder is likely to remain unfit for his team’s opening two matches.
Ledley fractured his leg on May 7 but the 29-year-old joined Wales at their pre-Euros training camp in Portugal last week and was running freely in individual fitness sessions away from the main group.
Wales start their campaign against Slovakia on June 11 before playing England five days later, and Ledley – owner of Welsh football’s most-loved beard – is expected to miss both those games.
However, Coleman, who will reveal his squad for the tournament at 2.30pm on Tuesday, has said he will select Ledley if the 62-times capped midfielder can show he will be ready for their final group game against Russia in Toulouse on June 20.
“I know my 23 now and the big one is Joe,” said Coleman. “It’s just about time length. We are hoping and praying there will be good news.
“It’s all on those first three games for us, we can’t really think beyond that. I’ve got a duty to the squad of players to consider how we give ourselves the best possible chance of getting out of that group. That’s a conversation I will have with Joe and the medical team.
“We will look at his chances of playing in those three games and work off that.”
UEFA rules state the list of 23 players must be completed online at least 10 days before the opening match of the tournament on June 10 so it is possible that Coleman could even leave a space in his squad to allow Ledley a few more days to prove his fitness.
“We are going to have a choice. Can we wait a little longer or are we going to run out of time?” Coleman added. “It’s so disappointing for Joe that we are in this position, thinking ‘can he or can’t he?’
He has done as much as anyone to get us there and he’s important to us on the pitch and off the pitch.”
Gareth Bale could hardly move during extra time in Real Madrid’s Champions League final victory on Saturday night after suffering a severe bout of cramp but scored in the penalty shoot-out and will link up with the rest of the Wales squad on Tuesday evening.
If Ledley is passed fit, it could come down to a straight fight between David Vaughan, Emyr Huws and David Edwards for one remaining midfield berth.
The experienced Vaughan may start as favourite to fill a holding role, but the 22-year-old Huws offers a greater physical presence which could be useful in both attacking and defensive set-piece situations.
Wolves midfielder Edwards is more of an attacking option and Wales are well served in these areas with Jonathan Williams, George Williams and David Cotterill having all made strong cases for inclusion.
