Aaron Ramsey: Wales will not change approach without captain, says Robert Page
- Published
Aaron Ramsey was replaced after 49 minutes of Wales' 2-0 win in Latvia last month
Robert Page says Wales will not change their approach in the remaining Euro 2024 qualifiers despite losing captain Aaron Ramsey to injury.
Ramsey is an absentee from Page's squad for the visit of Croatia to Cardiff on 15 October.
The Cardiff City midfielder, 32, will also miss Wales' last two qualifiers of the campaign against Armenia and Turkey in November.
"It's a shame and it's a blow, of course it is," said Wales manager Page.
"But there's nothing we can do. We have just got to get on with it and focus on the two games coming up, and especially the game against Croatia in Cardiff."
Wales are also without injured Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson for the Croatia game, as well as the friendly against Gibraltar in Wrexham four days earlier.
Ramsey has been ruled out for between eight and 10 weeks with a knee injury suffered in training with Cardiff.
Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut said the former Arsenal player could face a further three months on the sidelines should he end up requiring surgery.
The absence of 84-cap Ramsey is a heavy blow for Wales, particularly given his impressive form since he rejoined Cardiff in the summer.
"He's playing some of the best football [which] says a lot about coming back home and being settled," Page added.
"Ourselves and Cardiff have reaped the rewards and benefits of that. So it's a disappointing blow for us."
However, Page believes he still has the attacking options to cope without the playmaker as Wales look to upset group heavyweights Croatia.
"We are quite strong in those front positions, albeit we have people like Kieffer [Moore] not playing as many minutes as we'd like," Page told Friday night's BBC Radio Wales Sport programme.
"Aaron's replacement in Latvia was David Brooks. It's not a bad replacement to have - he scored the all-important second goal for us.
"We have Harry Wilson playing in the Premiership, DJ [Daniel James] contributing towards assists and goals for Leeds.
"Our principles and how we go about the game will not change, just the personnel because we have injuries."
Despite last month's 2-0 win in Latvia, Wales are fourth in Group D, trailing joint leaders Turkey and Croatia by three points, as they aim to reach next summer's European Championship in Germany.
Wales need a positive result against unbeaten Croatia if they are to keep automatic qualification hopes alive.