Crofts joins 14 Wales absentees

Last updated : 21 May 2010 By BBC Sport

Brighton midfielder Andrew Crofts has become the 15th player ruled out of the Wales squad for their friendly with Croatia in Osijek on Sunday.He was unable to travel because of a possible transfer and - as it was too late to call a replacement - the squad leaves with just 17 players.

Eight men were ruled out of the original squad, so manager John Toshack turned to the Under-21s for back-up.

Ashley Williams captains the squad in the absence of Craig Bellamy.

It will be the second time the Swansea City defender and Wales player of the year has captained his country, after November's 3-0 win over Scotland.

Bellamy joins absentees Aaron Ramsey, James Collins, Danny Gabbidon, Gareth Bale, Simon Davies and Jack Collison.

Manchester City striker Bellamy is suffering with a calf injury and withdrew on Wednesday, just hours after Sheffield United striker Ched Evans pulled out due to personal reasons.

It is the fifth successive friendly and fourth consecutive Wales match Bellamy has missed after he was advised not to travel to Croatia.

Does anyone else get annoyed that every time in the run up to a game Wales lose some of our most important players?

Smirnoffpriest

His Wales future had been in question after Toshack earlier this year refused to confirm whether the superstar is to play a part in Wales' Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Davies, Gabbidon, Collins, Swansea winger David Cotterill and Leicester City midfielder Andy King had previously withdrawn.

Toshack did not name Ramsey, Bale, Collison and Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen in his original squad due to injury.

He also left out Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley and Blackpool pair David Vaughan and Neal Eardley as the players will be required by their respective teams for the Championship play-off final on Saturday.

Aston Villa centre-back Collins withdrew due to the imminent birth of his first child and pulled out just 24 hours after his former West Ham and Cardiff team-mate Gabbidon pulled out of the squad, while Fulham midfielder Davies has a foot problem.

Wales' heavily weakened squad has been boosted in numbers by the call-up of four uncapped U21 internationals.

Williams is set to be the figurehead of Wales' makeshift backline alongside Lewin Nyatanga and Craig Morgan.

Wales withdrawals disappoint Jones

The withdrawals are a blow to Toshack as he is suffering a midfield dilemma ahead of Sunday's clash.

St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman - who was an unused player in Wales' squads against Scotland and Estonia - could be in line to win his first Wales cap alongside Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards and Doncaster's Brian Stock.

Reading striker Hal Robson-Kanu, Walsall midfielder Mark Bradley and defenders Neil Taylor of Wrexham and Bristol City's Christian Ribeiro were 11th hour calls by Toshack.

All four of the call-up started in Wales' 1-0 U21 friendly defeat in Austria on Tuesday.

The trip to Croatia is Wales' penultimate friendly ahead of their 2012 European Championship qualifying opener in Montenegro in September.

Wales squad to face Croatia on 23 May: Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Boaz Myhill (Hull City)

Defenders: Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Craig Morgan (Peterborough United), Lewin Nyatanga (Bristol City), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City, capt), Neil Taylor (Wrexham), Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City)

Midfielders: Andy Dorman (St Mirren), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Brian Stock (Doncaster Rovers), Mark Bradley (Walsall)

Strikers: Simon Church (Reading), Rob Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Sam Vokes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport