Wales 'grin and bear it' in Armenia

Mark Hughes is happy with his match preparations

Wales came through their first training session on Armenian soil on Thursday without any injury scares.

Each squad member participated fully in the session and manager Mark Hughes was pleased with the progress of his preparations for the vital Group Five match in Yerevan on Saturday.

However, with concerns about the uneven nature of the training surface, Hughes warned the players to practise a degree of caution to avoid any clumsy challenges.

This is the best they've got and that's the end of it

  Andy Melville
on the training facilities

"Sparky (Mark Hughes) had a word with beforehand warning us to be a bit careful," said 32-year-old Fulham defender Andy Melville.

"But the lads are keen to impress the manager and train well.

"We just have to be sensible about it. The conditions are not ideal, but we just have to grin and bear it.

"There's nothing else we can do about it - this is the best they've got and that's the end of it."

Impressive

Melville produced one of his best performances in a Welsh shirt in Wales' last qualifying match in Poland in October.

Alongside club colleague Chris Coleman, the pair were instrumental in securing a 0-0 draw against the current group leaders.

"It was the first clean sheet we've had in a championship game for a long while," said Melville.

"Hopefully, we can keep that going and score the other end."

Andy Legg: A skilful and experienced player

But Coleman will be watching the games against Armenia and then against Ukraine from the stands, as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

"It's a massive blow," admitted Melville, who's set to win his 43rd cap.

"With these two big games coming up, he's going to be sorely missed. But the other lads will came in a do a good job."

Indeed, Hughes has plenty of players ready to fill Coleman's place on the left-hand side of a defensive three.

Barnsley's Darren Barnard and Tranmere's Gareth Roberts are first team regulars in the First Division, and Andy Legg has been drafted into the squad after a number of impressive performances for Cardiff.

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Armenia v Wales, Saturday, 24 March, 1700 GMT live on BBC 2 Wales

Ian Rush, Mickey Thomas and Mark Aizlewood will be Oliver Hides's guests in the studio, and will be ready to answer your questions throughout the game.

Send your questions to [e-mail]

Wales squad to play Armenia in Yerevan on 24 March and Ukraine in Cardiff on 28 March:

P Jones (Southampton), Freestone (Swansea), Crossley (Nottm Forest), Ward (Notts County), Delaney (Aston Villa), S Jenkins (Huddersfield), Barnard (Barnsley), G Roberts (Tranmere), C Edwards (Nottm Forest), Legg (Cardiff), Melville, Symons (both Fulham), Page (Watford), J Robinson (Charlton), A Johnson (Nottm Forest), M Jones, Savage (both Leicester), Pembridge (Everton), C Robinson (Wolves), Speed (Newcastle), Saunders (Bradford), I Roberts (Norwich), Bellamy, Hartson (both Coventry), Blake (Blackburn), Giggs (Man Utd).