No rest for Wales team says Coleman as 'we are here to do a job'

  • Wales

Chris Coleman insists Wales matches should not be used as a "vehicle" to rest players ahead of club games.

Wales boss Coleman was involved in a public spat with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last week after Aaron Ramsey sustained a hamstring injury in October and West Brom's Tony Pulis and Garry Monk, of Swansea, have both expressed concern about their players being involved in friendly matches during this international break.

But Coleman is adamant that he will select the team he sees fit for Friday's friendly with Holland, and not one club managers would prefer him to pick.

Chris Coleman says he was surprised by Wenger's comments. Credit: PA

"We shouldn't be looked at as a vehicle for players to get rest," Coleman said ahead of the Cardiff City Stadium fixture which marks the start of Wales' build-up towards Euro 2016 next summer.

Coleman must experiment on Friday as his squad have been beset by injuries for Wales' first friendly since they lost 2-0 to Holland in Amsterdam in June 2014.

Star men Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are both absent, as are strikers Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes.

Leicester's Tom Lawrence, currently on loan at Blackburn, is expected to make his first start and Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw could also make his senior debut.

Holland's miserable Euro 2016 qualifying campaign saw them fail to qualify for the European Championship for the first time in three decades.