Ashley Williams: Croatia clash is must-win game

Wales are finally starting to put together a string of positive results under Chris Coleman’s guidance, and Friday’s 2-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden was their third win in their last four games. The sole defeat in that quartet was a 2-0 loss to Croatia in October, as Luka Modric ran the show in a comfortable win for Igor Stimac’s side. The win over the Scots moved Wales up to third place in Group A at the halfway stage of the campaign, although they trail pacesetters Croatia and Belgium by seven points.

A play-off place may yet be achievable, but Williams believes that possibility will evaporate if they fail to win at the Liberty Stadium. He said: “We want to win the game first and foremost and see where we are after that. But we are seven points off them, so if we want to do anything in the group we need to win this game, it’s that important. We think we can win it. Obviously we are trying to catch them and we want the points.

“They are doing well in the group, they are battling it out with Belgium at the top and they will want the points as much as we do. But we will have to see how it goes and see where we are after tomorrow night.”

Wales will have Gareth Bale available after the Tottenham star trained on Sunday and yesterday, and he appears to be over the worst of the illness which forced his withdrawal at half-time in Glasgow, although Aaron Ramsey will miss out after his red card.

Wales made light of Bale’s absence as they came from behind against Scotland, but Williams welcomes the 23-year-old’s availability.

“He seems fine, he trained today and yesterday and he has been working closely with the doctors, getting his energy levels up and the right food down him,” he said. “I am sure he will be ready for the game. You always want him in the team.”

lManchester City defender Vincent Kompany will return from a two-month injury lay-off and start for Belgium in tonight’s home World Cup qualifier against Macedonia. Kompany has been training with the main team since Belgium’s 2-0 victory over Macedonia last Friday and should regain his spot in the starting line-up at the expense of Bayern Munich veteran Daniel Van Buyten.