Denmark v Wales preview

Ramsey set for international debut

Last updated: 19th November 2008

John Toshack Wales press

Toshack: Young side

Related links

Teams

Also see

Wales travel to Copenhagen to face Denmark with John Toshack again ready to give youth its chance to impress.

The Welsh have seen a rich flow of young talent emerge in recent years, with their Under 21s only just missing out to England for qualification to the European Championship.

Toshack has always believed in giving youth its chance and he will hand a debut to Arsenal starlet Aaron Ramsey, in a side that will see seven out of those that start aged 22 or under.

Ramsey will make his bow on the senior stage, whilst U21 compatriot Jack Collison will start for the first time after a couple of substitute appearances.

Ramsey and West Ham star Collison will form a three-man midfield alongside Wolves' Dave Edwards - himself just 22.

Toshack has now told Ramsey and Collison that they can play themselves into contention for the World Cup qualifiers against Finland and Germany next year.

Big hope

"Aaron and Jack Collison will both come in and start and that will bring the average age down again to 22 - but I'm looking forward to see how they cope with the difficulties of the test," said Toshack.

"And there is a chance for them to stake a claim for March. In fact, with Aaron it was always the case because we knew that by then he will be another six months further down the line and will have spent the best part of a year at Arsenal.

"Jack has himself broken through at West Ham and is now playing and scoring, and they are the two we will be looking to."

With Hull keeper Boaz Myhill starting in goal, Toshack will adopt a five-man defence.

He looks set to go with Tottenham duo Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter at full-back, with Ashley Williams, James Collins and Lewin Nyatanga providing the central three.

Up-front Ched Evans will likely partner captain Craig Bellamy in attack, although if the Manchester City youngster does not play, then Bale would push to left wing with Sam Ricketts dropping into defence.

Danish coach Morten Olsen is refusing to underestimate the Welsh side.

"Their team consists of players mainly from the Premier League, but they also have a few players who don't get to play often," he said.

"But this happens with smaller nations and it is something we are familiar with ourselves.

"Bellamy is the best know player to us, as he played with Agger at Liverpool and he is a great player."

Olsen is hampered by the loss of a number of key players for the match.

Jon Dahl Tomasson, Christian Poulsen, Daniel Jensen, Martin Jorgensen, Lars Jacobsen, Martin Laursen and Thomas Kahlenberg are all missing.

Stoke's Thomas Sorensen will start in goal, with Liverpool's Dan Agger in defence alongside former Everton stopper Per Kroldrup.

Former Charlton man Dennis Rommedahl will again be on the right wing, as he looks to provide service for Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner.

Copenhagen midfielder Hjalte Bo Norregaard will make his debut in central midfield.