Wales v Serbia team news: Aaron Ramsey and Jonny Williams return to add to Chris Coleman’s attacking options

ARSENAL ace Aaron Ramsey is set to go straight into Wales’ starting line up for Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifying meeting with Group D table-toppers Serbia.

The midfielder sustained a hamstring injury on the opening day of the Premier League season and missed his country’s opening three qualifiers.

Ramsey started Wales’ first five matches at Euro 2016, before suspension ruled him out of the 2-0 semi final defeat to Portugal.

Jonny Williams, the Crystal Palace midfielder on loan at Ipswich Town, is also fit and ready to play.

Williams made four appearances at Euro 2016 as his country reached the last four.

Meanwhile, Wales boss Chris Coleman has a decision to make at left back.

The withdrawal of Tottenham’s Ben Davies through injury means that Neil Taylor and Adam Matthews will compete for a starting place.

The defensive problems continue for Coleman, with West Ham centre back James Collins ruled out on Tuesday.

MK Dons defender Joe Walsh replaces him.

For Serbia, Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will hope he carries his club form into the international arena.

Mitrovic has six goals in his past five games for club and country, helping Newcastle to the top of the Championship and Serbia to the summit of Group D.

The Magpies’ man was one of five English-based players to start Serbia’s most recent qualifying fixture, a 3-2 win over Austria in October.

Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic missed the Austria game but is back to face the Welsh, which means that up to six English-based players could start in Cardiff.

Stats

• Wales and Serbia’s only previous meetings came during 2014 World Cup qualifying: Chris Coleman’s men were thrashed 6-1 in Serbia and beaten 3-0 in the return fixture.
• Seven Wales players who started that 6-1 defeat are in the squad for Saturday.
• Wales have won just one of their past four home matches.
• Serbia are unbeaten in their past seven matches since losing 1-0 to Poland in March.
• Gareth Bale’s strike in the 1-1 draw with Moldova brought him to 25 international goals, just three behind Wales’ all time top scorer Ian Rush.
• Aaron Ramsey’s strike rate for his country stands at exactly one goal every four games.
• Southampton striker Dusan Tadic has scored in each of his past three Serbia games.
• Wales have lost just three competitive matches since 2013.
• Chris Coleman’s side have had 20 shots in their last two games, with just eight on target.
• Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic is Serbia’s most experienced player with 90 international caps.

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