Robert Taylor: Injured Finland midfielder to miss Euro play-off against Wales

Robert Taylor (right) was a youth player at Nottingham Forest but spent most of his career with clubs in Finland, Sweden and Norway

Finland's experienced midfielder Robert Taylor will miss Thursday's Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium.

And Middlesbrough striker Marcus Forss is an injury doubt for the encounter.

Taylor, capped 34 times, has pulled out of the game and will remain with his club Inter Miami.

Forss, 24, was replaced after 19 minutes of Middlesbrough's goalless Championship draw against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

He is due to have a fitness test to evaluate whether he can play a part on Thursday night.

A statement on the Finland Football Federation website said: "Striker Marcus Forss injured his leg in the weekend round so he will undergo further tests on Monday. After this it will be clear whether Forss will be able to join the team."

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Former Brentford player Forss, has scored twice in 24 appearances for his national team. This season he has been on target seven times for Middlesbrough.

Taylor, 29, can operate as a midfielder or wing back and has scored twice for his country. He has withdrawn from the squad to remain with his club in the United States.

Finland have not yet called up any replacements.

The winners of the Wales v Finland tie will have a home final against the victors of the other semi-final between Poland and Estonia, on Tuesday, 26 March.

The losing semi-finalists will play a friendly against each other on the same night.