Aaron Ramsey: Wales captain ‘still has a lot to offer’ – Page

Wales manager Rob Page has told captain Aaron Ramsey to concentrate on getting ready for the rigours of another Championship season with Cardiff City.

Ramsey, 33, had an injury hit campaign for club and country following his return to the Bluebirds last summer.

And after Wales’ Euro 2024 exit in the play-off final penalty shoot out defeat by Poland, there was speculation Ramsey was considering his international future.

But Page told BBC Wales Sport: “He is our captain at this moment in time, he wants to get his body into a position where he is fit and can cope with the demands of Championship football which is not easy.

“If he can do that I have no doubt he will carry on.”

Ramsey, a three times FA Cup winner with Arsenal and a Serie A champion at Juventus, made just seven Championship starts and six substitute appearances for Cardiff last term, scoring three goals.

He was restricted to two Euro 2024 outings and though he was in the squad for the play off games against Finland and Poland, he played no part having just returned from injury.

Ramsey has scored 21 goals in 84 Wales caps and Page said: “He is as frustrated as anybody with the injuries he had last season.

“As far as I am concerned he has a year left on his contract at Cardiff, I think he needs to get himself in a position where he can go through the demands of another Championship season and if he does that, I have said you don’t become an average player with the ability and skill he has. He still offers a lot.”

Asked whether Ramsey would continue with his international career, Page said: “We will have that conversation when the time is right.

“But right now he is looking forward to getting fighting fit and getting his body in a position where he can play and have the demands of a domestic season with Cardiff two games a week. If he can do that then no doubt he will continue.”

Having missed out on the Euros, Wales have friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia next month and it remains to be seen whether Ramsey will be included in the squad, which is due to be named at the end of May.

Also doubtful for the summer tour is Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, who captained Wales in Ramsey’s absence.

Davies missed the first the last five games of Spurs’ Premier League season with a calf problem. Page admitted 86 times capped Davies is “touch and go” for the friendlies.

“We are still going to have conversations with him and the club and see where we are at. It’s foolish for us to push players to the limits and have them break down again.

“After a long season they need a break and so we have to be sympathetic with the club, work closely together and come up with a plan of what is best for him.

“It might be he comes on camp and does some rehab, it might be he will benefit for the rest. I will speak with the medical team and we will have a plan on what we are going to do.”