Koumas doubt for Wales

Last updated : 03 October 2005 By Michael Morris
Jason Koumas is suffering from groin and hamstring complaints after City's defeat against Luton on the weekend. Wales face Northern Ireland in Belfast on Saturday afternoon before wrapping up the miserable qualifying campaign at home to Azerbaijan next Wednesday.

Speaking after City's defeat boss Dave Jones said of Koumas

"We will see how Jason is over the next 24 hours or so, but he was stretching his groin and hamstring 15 minutes before I brought him off.

"He'll have to report with the Wales squad and their medical people will check himhim over, but I certainly think he will be doubtful for the Northern Ireland match (if not Azerbaijan four days later).

"Jason's been carrying the groin injury for a while. The two-week break before our next match could give us the opportunity to make sure we get him fully right.

"But I'm not someone who pulls a player out unless they are struggling. I think it's important your international players play for their country."

The two week break will also allow time for Michael Ricketts to overcome a toe problem while Alan Lee has to have an injection into his groin.

Wales squad.

Price (Ipswich), Jones (Wolves), Brown (Gillingham), Delaney (Aston Villa), Duffy (Coventry), Page (Coventry), Gabbidon (West Ham)*, J Collins (West Ham), D Collins (Sunderland), Ricketts (Swansea), Edwards (Wolves), Partridge (Bristol City), Davies (Everton), Roberts (Tranmere), Fletcher (West Ham), Robinson (Sunderland), Koumas (Cardiff), Vaughan (Crewe), Williams (West Ham), Earnshaw (West Brom), Bellamy (Blackburn), Hartson (Celtic), Giggs (Man Utd).

*Gabbidon suspended for Northern Ireland game.


City have three players in the Wales U21 sqaud for their games against Germany and Azerbaijan. Joe Ledley, Byron Anthony and Curtis McDonald are in the squad with Stuart Fleetwood on standby.