How a goalkeeper of Danny Ward's quality can spend so little time playing football was one of the questions of Wales' summer.

Ward excelled at Euro 2020, producing a string of impressive displays to help Wales get out of a difficult group.

Yet after his spell in the European Championship limelight, Ward is back in his all too familiar position in the shadows at Leicester City, where he is understudy to Kasper Schmeichel.

For Wales goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts - who does the same job for Wolverhampton Wanderers - it is frustrating, if understandable, to see Ward sitting on Leicester's bench.

"I spoke to Brendan [Rodgers] after the game [between Leicester and Wolves on 14 August] and said to him 'any danger of getting Danny a game?'," Roberts says with a smile.

Leicester City player can be a top keeper, says Wales coach Tony Roberts

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

There's a total of 160 caps in that Wales starting line-up, so an average of 14.5 per player.

It's a young and weakened team but more experienced than it might have been because of Ryan Giggs and Robert Page's use of younger fringe players in Nations League campaigns as well as friendlies.

Page will have even fewer to choose from for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus in Russia.

A combination of injuries, coronavirus and visa issues means Wales will be without 13 players in Kazan, so no wonder they're keen to rest and protect some of their senior players today.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales face a "logistical nightmare" in playing their World Cup qualifier with Belarus in Kazan, Russia, according to manager Robert Page.

Teams from the United Kingdom and the European Union cannot enter Belarus by air because of sanctions against the country's government that forced the game on 5 September to be moved.

The match at Kazan's Central Stadium will be played behind closed doors.

Wales will also be without three players, Tyler Roberts, Ethan Ampadu and stand-in Brandon Cooper, who have not been issued visas for the trip to Kazan.

"Logistically it's been hard work for us," said Page.

Wales' World Cup qualifier with Belarus in Russia a 'nightmare', says Robert Page

It's not just been players on the move, former Sheffield United assistant manager Alan Knill has joined Wales' coaching staff.

Ex-Wales defender Knill joins manager Robert Page's team for the remainder of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wales had a vacancy after assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg left in July.

Knill, 56, helped Sheffield United climb from League One to the Premier League under former boss Chris Wilder, working with Wales players such as David Brooks and Ethan Ampadu.

"I am very excited to be joining Rob, the staff and the rest of the squad," former Swansea City centre-back Knill said of his appointment with Wales.

Former Sheffield United assistant Alan Knill joins Wales coaching staff

Image source, Getty Images

Sadly for our Swansea-supporting friends, Daniel James was not the only Welshman on the move to a Premier League club on deadline day.

Burnley have signed Wales international defender Connor Roberts from Swansea.

Roberts, 25, whose Swansea contract was due to expire next summer, joins the Clarets for an undisclosed fee and on a four-year deal.

Academy product Roberts was a firm favourite at Swansea having made 152 appearances for his local club.

He is Burnley's fifth major summer signing, joining Nathan Collins, Wayne Hennessey, Aaron Lennon and Maxwel Cornet at Turf Moor.

Burnley sign Wales defender Connor Roberts from Swansea

Image source, Burnley FC

Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is going to be a difficult game because the squad has been hit left, right and centre.

I wouldn't like to be in Rob Page's shoes right now but I'm sure he'll be able to handle it.

Take a look back at some of Daniel James' best Premier League goals from his time at Manchester United.

Image source, BBC Sport

After yesterday's chaotic transfer deadline day, there was no doubt about who was Wales' biggest mover.

Leeds have signed Daniel James from Manchester United for a fee believed to be £25m, more than two years after he almost joined the club on loan.

The 23-year-old Wales winger has signed a five-year contract.

Leeds have kept a close eye on James ever since his move to Elland Road from Swansea collapsed in January 2019, with him moving to Old Trafford that summer.

"For me and my football career this is completely the right decision," James told Sky Sports.

"I had an unbelievable time [at Manchester United]. I made great friends, the staff and fans were amazing to me. It is my time to move on career wise. I am just looking forward to it."

Dan James moves to Leeds from Manchester United

Today's Wales squad may be depleted, but you only have to go back a decade to find their 'worst ever team'.

What happened next?

Cymru Fyw's Iolo Cheung brings you the story.

From 'worst team ever' to Euros semis, Wales' 10-year journey from lowest ebb

Image source, Getty Images

I don't want to pull the curtain back too far and ruin the magic aura around BBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips, but he did say these words this week when talking about Wales' slew of injuries.

"At least they haven't had any Covid issues, that's one positive."

And not 24-hours later, Wales lost two players because of Covid-19... A lesson learned for our Mr Phillips.

Kieffer Moore ruled out for Wales as close contact to Covid-hit Adam Davies

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales midfielder Dylan Levitt says they still have a “strong squad" for their three upcoming games, despite missing so many players.

Wales are severely depleted for tonight's friendly in Finland after being hit by a spate of withdrawals.

Aaron Ramsey, Joe Rodon, David Brooks, Neco Williams and George Thomas have all pulled out injured.

Adam Davies has tested positive for Covid-19 and Kieffer Moore has been deemed a close contact, ruling him out.

Manager Robert Page may also need to rest some first-team players with World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia to follow next week.

"It's been a difficult couple of days, but it is what it is - we cannot sit and cry about it," said Page.

"We have to take the positives out of every situation and that is what we are doing.

"We have an opportunity to see other players, they have opportunities to step up to the plate and they have to grab the opportunities with both hands."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

With Wales depleted by injury, coronavirus and other reasons for player withdrawals, manager Robert Page names a team showing 10 changes from their most recent game, the last-16 loss to Denmark at Euro 2020 in June.

Captain Gareth Bale and defender Ben Davies are among the senior players on the bench, as Page looks to keep them fresh for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia.

New Leeds United signing Daniel James and Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen are not included in the matchday squad.

Only goalkeeper Danny Ward retains his place from Wales’ defeat against Denmark.

Ward captains the team in Bale’s absence, while there is a first senior international start for Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson.

Wales: Ward; Lockyer, Ampadu, J Lawrence; J Williams, Smith, Levitt, Norrington-Davies; Wilson, T Roberts, Johnson.

Subs: Hennessey, King, Gunter, Cooper, B Davies, Mepham, Sheehan, Bale, Colwill, Morrell, Harris, Woodburn.

Image source, BBC Sport

Finland also make a raft of changes – eight from their last outing, a 2-0 defeat by Belgium in their final group game at Euro 2020.

That means the likes of Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki are only on the bench.

Goalkeeper Carljohan Eriksson and forward Santeri Hostikka make their senior debuts for the Finns.

Finland: Eriksson; Raitala, Ivanov, Toivio, Hamalainen; Jensen, Kairinen, Kamara, Assehnoun; Hostikka, Forss.

Subs: Hradecky, O'Shaughnessy, Vaisanen, Taylor, Valakari, Pukki, Schuller, Soiri, Nissila, Alho, Pohjanpalo.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Hei, as they say in Helsinki.

Welcome, the Euros feels like it was only five minutes ago (and also five years ago, weirdly) but here we are, back on the international beat as the road to the World Cup begins.

It's a road paved with Nations League caveats and covid-restrictions and amber and red countries, but for Wales, it is also currently a road paved with many obstacles.

Wales are without a staggering number of players on this international break, which will take in two World Cup qualifiers after tonight's friendly.

But before we spend quite a long time telling you who Wales don't have available tonight, let's have a look at those teams and see who is playing, shall we?