Michael Beale has been quoted by West London Sport as saying Tyler Roberts will be going to the World Cup with Wales – despite the on-loan Leeds United ace suffering a calf injury that will see him injured until the tournament.
Roberts, 23, left Leeds on a loan deal in the summer to join QPR. The London-based side have been excellent this season, despite losing to Birmingham City on the weekend. Beale’s side in third place, with a game in hand.
The £4million signing clearly did not do enough to convince Jesse Marsch that he was going to be a part of his side this season. At QPR, his form has not been great. He has started just nine of 13 games, scoring only two goals.
But Roberts picked up a reoccurrence of a long-standing calf injury on Friday night against Birmingham. It had raised questions over the potential of Roberts featuring at the World Cup with Wales. But Beale said he is still going.
“He’s going to the World Cup. He’s going to live his dream by playing in the World Cup. We’re delighted to have him representing us,” Beale said. That is, despite Roberts missing QPR’s last four games before the World Cup.
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Beale: Leeds ace Roberts will be going to World Cup despite calf injury
Roberts will be worried. While he is more than likely to be included in the Wales squad ahead of the World Cup, the injury will be a concern. If he is missing QPR’s final games, then there is serious doubt regarding his availability.
But Beale’s comments will be reassuring for Roberts – and in a way, slightly pre-empting Rob Page’s selection. But Roberts will have expected to be in the 26-man squad. As long as there are no setbacks, Roberts will be in Qatar.
