Chris Coleman will attempt to repair his relationship with defender James Collins at a meeting on Wednesday, as the Wales boss looks to patch up his injury-hit squad ahead of their final two World Cup qualifiers.
Coleman has seen 10 players pull out of his squad for the upcoming matches against Macedonia and Belgium, which could decide whether the 43-year-old retains his position in charge of the Dragons.
Wales have been hardest hit in defence – Ashley Williams withdrew with a ankle problem on Tuesday – but despite that West Ham centre-back Collins has remained on the outer after a dispute over whether or not he rejected the chance to play for his country last month.
Press Association Sport understands, however, that Coleman has agreed to meet Collins in Cardiff on Wednesday after the 41-cap veteran broke their silence with a phone call on Tuesday.
Coleman revealed last week that any resolution would need to be made face to face, and following Collins’ contact he has agreed to speak to the player in order to settle their differences.
Should their meeting progress well there is a possibility that Collins could be drafted into the Wales squad in time for the Macedonia game in Cardiff on Friday.
The loss of Williams on Tuesday has left Coleman with painfully few centre-half options, with Chris Gunter and Owain Tudur Jones, normally a midfielder and last capped in May 2011, tipped to start against Macedonia.
Coleman has also seen the world’s most expensive player Gareth Bale, Liverpool’s Joe Allen, Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley and Brighton’s Andrew Crofts withdraw on the day of last Thursday’s squad announcement, with the quintet of Adam Matthews, Ben Davies, Danny Gabbidon, Sam Ricketts andJack Collinson following on Monday.
The injury crisis could yet get worse as Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey took no part in training on Tuesday due to a leg injury.
The exclusions have threatened to undermine the end to Craig Bellamy‘s 15-year international career after the forward announced the two matches would be his last in a Wales shirt.
Written by George Coomber
