Ryan Giggs is still hopeful Aaron Ramsey will play for Wales in the Nations League away double-header against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday and Bulgaria next Wednesday. Giggs remains optimistic one of his key talents is available despite the fact that Ramsey is out of the friendly with England at Wembley on Thursday after Juventus imposed a bio-secure ‘bubble’ around their squad. The Football Association of Wales posted on their Twitter account: “Aaron Ramsey is currently unable to join the squad until after the England match.”

Rhys Norrington-Davies has revealed how he got his first call-up into Wales’ senior squad – by email! The full-back is relishing linking up with the squad tomorrow having made the 27-strong party for the friendly with England and Nations Cup games against the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria.

Ryan Giggs admits he was playing the long game when he agreed with Tottenham that Gareth Bale should be left out of the Wales squad. The Wales manager will be without his captain, talisman and match-winner for the England friendly on October 8 and the following Nations League games away to the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria. It comes after Bale is yet to make his second debut for Spurs since rejoining the London club on a season-long loan from Real Madrid earlier this month.

Ryan Giggs says Wales’ friendly with England at Wembley will be perfect build-up for the Nations Cup – after arranging the behind-closed-doors game on a whim. The nations will face each other on October 8 just days before Wales’ crucial trip to face the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria.

Gareth Bale has said he coped with his Real Madrid nightmare by learning not to take criticism too personally. The Wales captain has revealed his coping strategy during his frustrating final few months in Spain – during which time he became a target for anger and derision among some sections of the club’s supporters and Spanish media – by shrugging his shoulders and smiling on through. Bale joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan earlier this month seven years after having departed north London for a then world-record transfer fee.

Sophie Ingle insists Wales can derail runaway UEFA European Championship qualifying Group C leaders Norway next month – if they find their clinical streak. The Chelsea star saw her celebrations at joining Wales’ 100 Club tinged with disappointment after a narrow 1-0 defeat in Oslo on Tuesday.

Sophie Ingle believes mighty Chelsea and little Vale Wanderers have been crucial influences in her route to becoming a Welsh centurion. Ingle will win her 100th cap in Oslo tonight when Wales attempt to put a dent in Norway’s leadership of their Euro qualifying group. It is a fittingly significant match for a notable personal milestone. Only Jess Fishlock and Loren Dykes have reached three figures among Wales’ footballers – women or men.

Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham will spark an immediate impact within Jose Mourinho’s squad, according to Wales manager Ryan Giggs. Bale may have been on the sidelines at his new club as Spurs thrashed Southampton 5-2 at the weekend, but that may be only the start of a more lasting influence according to his international boss. Reflecting on Bale’s loan move from Real Madrid, Giggs said: “It’s a huge boost when you see someone like that walk through the door.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder admits he would love to be reunited with Wales star David Brooks – but says he can’t afford him. The Blades boss – who has signed Brooks’ Wales team-mate Ethan Ampadu on loan from Chelsea – reckons the Bournemouth flier is in the £40-50million bracket.

Fred Davies – who died last week at the age of 81 – was a former Cardiff City goalkeeper, who claimed a notable hat-trick for the club. He also crossed the great divide to join the coaching staff at Swansea City, but then enjoyed success as a manager in his own right with Shrewsbury, as Terry Phillips outlines. Fred Davies was a no-nonsense, no frills goalkeeper when former Cardiff City Jimmy Scoular splashed out £10,000 to bring him from Wolverhampton Wanderers to South Wales. Liverpool-born Davies made more than 100 first team appearances for the Bluebirds and played a key role in three Welsh Cup triumphs.

Christian Doidge has been told to keep scoring in Scotland and his chance for Wales will come. The Hibernian striker missed out on selection for the Nations League squad as manager Ryan Giggs opted to recall Euro 2016 hero Hal Robson-Kanu as his back-up striker to Kieffer Moore. Robson-Kanu came on as a substitute for the final half-hour of the 1-0 victory over Bulgaria in Cardiff, but Hibs head coach Jack Ross still believes Cwmbran-born Doidge can force his way into the reckoning in time for the delayed Euro finals next summer.

Ryan Giggs has hailed the impact of Neco Williams after the Liverpool teenager became the new hero of Welsh football. Williams scored his first senior goal to maintain Wales’ 100 per cent record in the Nations League after he came on to win his second cap as a 65th-minute substitute, then headed home Jonny Williams’ 94th-minute cross at the end of a stunning 23-pass move to give Wales a 1-0 win over Bulgaria in Cardiff. “Neco’s attitude is first-class, when you have a professional who wants to improve then you’ve got a chance,” Wales manager Giggs said after the 19-year-old full-back had secured Sunday’s last-gasp win.