Home Nations Cup : Wales vs Scotland Liv
| Team's Facts: |
The last time the two sides met, Wales ran out convincing 3-0 winners with goals coming from David Edwards, Simon Church and Aaron Ramsey.
- Aston Villa defender James Collins (pictured right) has pulled out of the squad through injury.
- Wales have claimed victory over the Scots in the last four fixtures between the countries.
- Scotland could hand first caps to Celtic’s James Forrest and Norwich's Russell Martin, who qualifies for the national side though his Scottish father.
- A victory for Scotland would see them remain at the top of the Home Nations Cup league table going into their last fixture with the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
- The Scots hold a massive advantage in the head-to-head between the two nations, having won 59 times, while Wales have only recorded 22 victories and another 22 games have ended in a draw.
The Scots, who could hand debuts to Russell Martin and James Forrest, travel to Dublin to take on Gary Speed’s side, who are yet to win since his appointment as managerWales boss Gary Speed has an injury doubt over centre-back James Collins along with on-loan Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy, who has been carrying a hamstring injury, which saw him miss the Bluebirds' second-leg defeat in the Championship play-offs.
Speed
is already without the services of Gareth Bale, Sam Ricketts, Andrew
Crofts, Joe Ledley, Ched Evans, Christian Ribiero and Brian Stock due to
injury, while Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Simon Church and Hal
Robson-Kanu are all unavailable due to their participation in the
Championship play-off final on Monday.
Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Jack Collison makes his international return after being out of the team for over a year with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Jack Collison makes his international return after being out of the team for over a year with a knee injury.
Scotland go into the Home Nations Cup fixture
without the services of Celtic midfielder Kris Commons, who has been
forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury, while both skipper Darren
Fletcher and frontman Craig Mackail-Smith are both out of the squad due
to club commitments.
The Scots are also without long-term injury victims Craig Gordon, Alan Hutton, Lee Wallace and Graham Dorrans, while Dundee United striker David Goodwillie is excluded from the travelling party due to legal reasons.
The Scots are also without long-term injury victims Craig Gordon, Alan Hutton, Lee Wallace and Graham Dorrans, while Dundee United striker David Goodwillie is excluded from the travelling party due to legal reasons.
Line up prediction:
| Wales (4-4-2): Hennessey; Gunter, J Collins, Gabbidon, D Collins; Cotterill, Collison, Ramsey, King; Morison, Earnshaw. |
| Scotland (4-5-1): McGregor; Whittaker, G Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley; Morrison, Brown, Adam, McArthur, Robson; Miller. |
