Football: Williams blow for Wales

Thursday 09 October 1997 23:02 BST
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Adrian Williams broke down in training yesterday, plunging Wales' preparation for their World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Brussels into crisis. The 26-year-old Wolves centre-back was forced to fly home after a desperate bid to prove his fitness failed.

Bobby Gould, the Wales coach, had gambled on Williams recovering from an Achilles injury in time to play in their final Group Seven match on Saturday.

Gould said: "We wanted to give him every chance of making it. He came out with us to Brussels after having treatment morning, noon and night. But he trained in the morning and it clearly wasn't going to stand up to any real match action."

His plans are in crisis, as he has already lost Manchester City's Kit Symons with a knee injury. Queen's Park Rangers' Karl Ready and Watford's Robert Page are the only recognised centre-backs in the party.

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