Injured Ledley is missing for Wales

Wales have been hit by the blow of losing midfielder Joe Ledley from their World Cup squad.

The Cardiff youngster suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's draw at Blackpool, and has tonight been ruled out of the games against Liechtenstein on Saturday and the trip to Germany four days later.

Ledley, 21, has been one of the key figures in manager John Toshack's squads, already winning 24 senior caps, and would have been a certain starter in both qualifiers.

Ledley reported to the team hotel yesterday and was assessed by the FA of Wales medical team, and he also had a scan.

But the injury has been diagnosed as a torn hamstring, and he will be out for a fortnight.An FAW spokesman said: "It was clear when he was examined that the injury is not going to clear up in a short time. And we accept that losing him is a big blow."

It is a setback for Toshack, who was beginning to think his injury woes were behind him with long-term injured players Craig Bellamy, James Collins and Lewin Nyatanga at last being available for selection.

And as the squad assembled at their Cardiff base last night, Toshack's problems worsened.

He has also lost strikers Robert Earnshaw and Wolves' Freddy Eastwood, with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Doncaster's Brian Stock has also pulled out with a back problem, despite playing for his club at the weekend.

The loss of Earnshaw and Eastwood means that youngsters Sam Vokes and Ched Evans will be battling for the chance to partner Bellamy in the two qualifiers.

Sheffield United's David Cotterill could also now come into the reckoning.

Wales will make a decision tomorrow on possible replacements.

With Collins not 100 per cent certain to be involved in both games after recovering from his knee operation, it seems that Wrexham's Steve Evans will be called in.

The choice of extra strikers is limited. But Jermaine Easter, on loan from Plymouth at Millwall, and Barnsley's Danny Nardiello come into the reckoning.