DUO HAVE BAD BACKS FOR BAKU; SATURDAY, KAZAKHSTAN KICK-OFF 4PM.Byline: EMMETT CASSIDY WALES pair Ched Evans and Sam Ricketts Samuel "Sam" Ricketts (born October 11, 1981 in Aylesbury, England) is a Welsh football player, currently playing for Hull City. His favoured position is full-back; he usually plays on the right for Hull, but is equally comfortable on the left. are set to miss the World Cup qualifier qual·i·fi·er n. 1. One that qualifies, especially one that has or fulfills all appropriate qualifications, as for a position, office, or task. 2. in Azerbaijan through injury. Manchester City striker Evans and Hull full-back Ricketts are rated as major doubts with back injuries ahead of Saturday's tough test in Baku. But West Ham's Jack Collision should be fit to make the long trip today after suffering a knee problem in last Friday night's 1-0 victory over Estonia. Collison had only recently returned to action with the Hammers after suffering a worrying knee injury so will be monitored closely by the Wales management team ahead of Saturday's clash. Wales boss John Toshack John Benjamin Toshack OBE (born 22 March 1949) is a football manager and former player. He is the current manager of the Welsh national football team. Life and playing career , whose qualification dreams are over, admits the Group Four clash will be an eye-opener for his young side. He said: "It's going to be a real test for these young players in a hot climate in a very hostile atmosphere. "It is not an easy place to go, a lot of the top sides in Europe have struggled over there of late. "They are no mugs and have improved a lot recently. It will be a good character builder for our young lads, something they have not experienced." Wales fielded the youngest side in their history as Robert Earnshaw Robert Earnshaw (born April 6, 1981) is a Zambian-born Welsh international football player. He is a striker presently playing for Derby County. Early life Earnshaw, nicknamed "Earnie", was born on the outskirts of the north central Zambian mining town of Mufulira on 6 helped his country to a morale-boosting victory in Llanelli. But Toshack admitted his new-look side will have to up their fitness levels if they want to avoid an embarrasing defeat to minnows Azerbaijan. He added: "Most of our players have not been involved in a match since the beginning of May. "Working in the gym is no substitute for matches - I think the Estonia game has shown that our fitness levels are not high." CAPTION(S): DOUBT Evans could miss trip to Azerbaijan INJURY Hull ace Sam Ricketts is a huge doubt |
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