Tyler Roberts hopes to silence two groups of observers tonight when he plays for Wales in Bulgaria – the doubters who think he cannot fill in for Kieffer Moore and the racists who think he shouldn’t even get the opportunity.Primarily, the striker hopes Bulgaria fans have learned their lesson and there will be no repeat of the shameful scenes when England’s black players were racially abused in Sofia. England’s 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying victory last October was overshadowed as racist chants saw the game stopped twice and officials threaten to abandon the match.

Robbie Savage says his new role as head of football at relaunched Macclesfield is the “perfect fit” after the original club’s closure left him “devastated”. The former Wales midfielder, now a TV and radio pundit, will play a leading role at the club which has been relaunched as Macclesfield FC after the demise of Macclesfield Town. The club were expelled from the National League in September after they were wound up in the High Court.

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.

Ryan Giggs says Kieffer Moore must wise up to European referees after being banned from Wales’ Nations League game in Bulgaria. Moore was ruled out of Wednesday’s Group B4 tie in Sofia after picking up his second booking of the competition during the 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. The 6ft 5in Cardiff targetman was cautioned by Greek referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos for leading with the arm in an aerial challenge which led to Republic defender Kevin Long being forced off with a badly swollen eye.

Ryan Giggs has admitted his Wales team must step on the gas if they are to break down international sides as hard-edged as the Republic of Ireland. The Wales manager was disappointed with the pedestrian football that made for a drab 0-0 draw in Dublin in their Nations League clash. Ireland’s 10-man coronavirus-hit side refused to yield late on after Stoke winger James McClean was sent off in the closing stages at the Aviva Stadium.

Wales’ clash with the Republic of Ireland has been hit by more problems with the news that five Irish players have been ruled out after one of them tested positive for coronavirus. The Football Association of Ireland have confirmed one unnamed player tested positive on Friday following the squad’s return from Slovakia after a negative test on Monday, and four others deemed to be close contacts on Saturday night – understood to be John Egan, Callum Robinson, Callum O’Dowda and Alan Browne – have since been stood down.

Aaron Ramsey is the man who can unlock Ireland’s defence tomorrow, Wales manager Ryan Giggs has claimed. Ramsey is available for Sunday’s Nations League match against the Republic after being part of Juventus’ Covid-19 bubble following an outbreak at the Italian club. Ramsey missed the 3-0 friendly defeat to England at Wembley on Thursday, but Giggs said: “Aaron’s trained all week with Juve and joined up with us in Dublin yesterday.

Ben Davies expects Wales to show a positive reaction to their heavy Wembley loss when they face the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. The Tottenham defender captained the side in a 3-0 defeat to England, who wonthrough goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Conor Coady and Danny Ings. Ryan Giggs’ men do not have long to bounce back as they head to Dublin for a UEFA Nations League clash at the weekend and Davies said it will be a better showing.

Ryan Giggs has described Wales’ defending as “soft” as he reflected on the lessons from the 3-0 friendly defeat to England at Wembley. What was meant to be a valuable warm-up for the key Nations League games over the next few days became an exercise in keeping the score down in the second-half against a superior England side. That dominance was only established after Wales had controlled the opening 25 minutes until Dominic Calvert-Lewin put England ahead.

Wales travel to play England at Wembley Stadium tonight – 40 years after one of the greatest matches in Welsh international football history.  Mike England was the Wales manager on May 17, 1980 and had charge of a Wales team packed with experience and talent in the shape of players like Dai Davies,  Joey Jones, Brian Flynn, Mickey Thomas Leighton James, plus the youth of Ian Walsh and David Giles. What followed was extraordinary, as Terry Phillips recalls.

Ben Cabango has been backed to pass another examination tonight – the Harry Kane test. The 20-year-old defender has already graduated from Newport County’s academy to the Championship with Swansea City, via the Cymru Premier League with The New Saints. Cabango has even managed to squeeze in his first international cap –earned as an 89th minute substitute in the 1-0 victory over Finland at the start of September – even though he is little more than a year into his senior Swans career.

Wales and Tottenham star Ben Davies has been advising Wayne Pivac on how rugby players should adapt to playing big matches in empty stadia. Wales coach Pivac revealed he approached the Spurs defender during a visit to the club on a fact-finding mission as he prepares for the busy autumn series of matches. Wales are due to play an intense period of six Tests in as many weeks, featuring a friendly against France, a rescheduled Guinness Six Nations appointment with Scotland and four Autumn Nations Cup games against opposition including England and Ireland.