Coleman expects Allen to feature
Wales manager Chris Coleman fully expects Joe Allen to play a part in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia, despite the fact his shoulder injury will require surgery.
The injury did not stop the former Swansea man featuring off the bench in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Tottenham, and Coleman has selected him in his 23-man squad as Wales look to build on their encouraging win over Austria last month.
The Wales boss is not expecting the powers that be at Anfield to deprive him of the services of one of his key players. He said: "(Liverpool manager) Brendan Rodgers commented that at some stage he will have to have surgery but at no time have we been told he's not available."
Coleman added: "If that was the case we wouldn't pick Joe, I totally respect Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool Football Club and I think we'll always try to work with club because they aren't our players and we're only borrowing them. But we've not told been told anything so at the minute he's very much in the squad."
One man who has missed out is Celtic defender Adam Matthews, due to the hamstring injury he picked up in the Hoops' Champions League exit at the hands of Juventus.
Coleman sympathises with the 21-year-old, who would have been desperate to feature in next Friday's clash at Hampden Park, but has not ruled out having him available to meet Croatia in Swansea in the second game of the double-header.
"I thought Adam was outstanding against Austria and he really is developing into a fine young player, so it's disappointing," said Coleman. "We know he's definitely out of the first game but we don't know about the second one yet, there' a bit more time for him so it's wait and see on that.
"He has an extra three or four days which with the injury could make a big difference. At the minute we have to think he's unavailable. It would have been a great game for him in Scotland given he's playing in Scotland with Celtic and he's in tremendous form, so it's a shame."
Wales squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia:
B Myhill (West Brom), L Price (Crystal Palace), O Fon Williams (Tranmere); B Davies (Swansea), J Collins (West Ham), C Gunter (Reading), J Lynch (Huddersfield), J Richards (Swansea), S Ricketts (Bolton), A Williams (Swansea, captain); J Allen (Liverpool), J Collison (West Ham), A King (Leicester), J Ledley (Celtic), A Ramsey (Arsenal), D Vaughan (Sunderland), J Williams (Crystal Palace), G Bale (Tottenham); C Bellamy (Cardiff), S Church (Reading), S Morison (Leeds), H Robson-Kanu (Reading), S Vokes (Burnley).
