Joe Ledley has told Sky Sports he feels Aaron Ramsey scoring his first Rangers goal will do the midfielder the world of good ahead of Wales hosting Austria in a World Cup play-off.
The Dragons host Das Team at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night for a spot in the Path A final against Scotland or Ukraine. Ramsey played a vital role in Robert Page’s side sealing a play-off spot, after scoring three and assisting one goal over their final four Group E ties.
Ramsey was firmly out of favour at Juventus when Wales’ October and November fixtures came around. He left the Serie A side to join Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Premiership side in January, having not played a second in the Italian top-flight since the end of September.
Injuries played their part in Ramsey spending four months on the sidelines in Turin before moving to Glasgow on loan. They have also stayed with the 71-cap maestro at Ibrox, with a calf issue limiting his availability. He has only started three of six games from a possible 14.
Joe Ledley claims Rangers ace Aaron Ramsey has ‘frightening’ fitness levels
Former Wales international Ledley has no doubt that Ramsey will be fit and raring to go when the Rangers loanee lines up against Austria in Cardiff for their World Cup play-off.
Ledley also believes Ramsey scoring his first Rangers goal to draw the Gers level in their 2-1 win at Dundee on Sunday will offer him a huge confidence boost ahead of the crunch tie.
“We have no worries with Aaron, in terms of his fitness,” Ledley said. “And he’s got more minutes under his belt now than he did for the last camp, and scoring last weekend will have been great for his confidence.
“His fitness levels are frightening. I’ve worked with him for many years, he doesn’t stop running. He helps out all over the pitch, tracking back.
“On the flip side, he can also make that third man run and make the difference in the opposition box, which then gets him his goals. He goes under the radar. He’s still a massive player in this squad.”
Van Bronckhorst will likewise hope Ramsey’s first Rangers goal offers the Wales talisman a huge confidence boost. But the Gers boss’ main hope will be seeing the midfielder come through the Dragons’ World Cup play-off with Austria unscathed for the Old Firm derby.
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