Chris Coleman: Friendlies no excuse for rest

Chris Coleman insists Wales should not be used as a “vehicle” to rest players ahead of club games.

Wales manager Chris Coleman during a training session at the Vale Resort, Glamorgan. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday November 10, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Wales. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. No commercial use. No use in books or print sales without prior permission. Call [phone] for further information.

Wales boss Coleman was involved in a public spat with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last week after Aaron Ramsey sustained a hamstring injury in October and West Brom’s Tony Pulis and Garry Monk, of Swansea, have both expressed concern about their players being involved in friendly matches during this international break.

But Coleman is adamant that he will select the team he sees fit for tonight’s friendly with Holland, and not one club managers would prefer him to pick.

“We shouldn’t be looked at as a vehicle for players to get rest,” Coleman said ahead of the fixture which marks the start of Wales’ build-up towards Euro 2016 next summer. “We’ll have over 25,000 people there on Friday night and they’ll come to see us perform, not have a rest. We’re here to do a job.

“I’ll rest a player if he’s had a knock, in danger of something happening if he’s so fatigued or coming back from an injury.

“Or I’ll make a change if I want to give someone else a chance on the pitch.

“But I don’t think anyone should be saying who I can pick and why. As long we send players back in a fit and healthy state, which 99 times out of 100 we do, it’s not for anybody to suggest who international managers should play or how they play.

“I don’t think if it was reversed club managers would like if we said rest him because we’re playing afterwards.”