Wales midfielder Joe Ledley says they will cope if Joe Allen misses Georgia game
Friday 7 October 2016 23:30, UK
Joe Ledley is confident Wales can cope without Joe Allen if he is forced to miss Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
The in-form Allen limped off with hamstring trouble early in the second half of Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Austria in Vienna.
Stoke star Allen had earlier scored with a terrific first-half strike, his third goal in as many games for club and country and his second in successive matches for Wales, but he is now expected to miss the game against Georgia in Cardiff.
"Joe has always been a quality player and more people now are just realising how good he is," said Ledley.
"He's always had that ability, we've known it all his career, and it's exactly the same as Wales. We've put this nation on the map and people are starting to notice us."
Live International Football: FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers
Allen's absence comes at a particularly bad time for Wales with fellow midfielder Aaron Ramsey currently sidelined by a hamstring problem.
The pair also missed the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus two years ago, but Chris Coleman's side still managed to collect four points from those games on the way to reaching the finals.
"It's a big blow to lose Joe, he's a fantastic player," added Ledley. "He's my partner in there and we thrive with each other.
"But it's an opportunity for someone else to come in, get a cap and get a good performance under their belt."
Watch Wales v Georgia on Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 4:30pm.
