Wales boss Robert Page has sympathy for the fact that number one at the club is out in the cold

ROBERT PAGE has been left torn by Danny Ward’s exile in Leicester.

The Foxes goalkeeper, who is also Wales’ number 1, has not played a single minute at club level this season, in contrast to five appearances for his country.

Danny Ward has remained Wales’ No.1 this season despite zero minutes for LeicesterCredit: Alamy

Dragons keeper Ward denies England's Marcus Rashford at the 2022 World Cup — Dragons keeper Ward denies England’s Marcus Rashford at the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty

Wales boss Page asked for his out-of-favour stars to get January moves but Ward, who cost £12.5million from Liverpool in 2018, failed to leave the King Power.

Page said: “I spoke to Danny. It wasn’t that he didn’t listen to my advice. I’ve had a few conversations with him.

“If you put your player on the head, you get it, I get it.

“When there are politics involved and you have a certain amount of time left on your contract, it’s not as simple as just going away and playing a game of football. There are many aspects to this.

“In the past we have dealt with players who did not play for clubs.

“I’m just going to focus on the positives and the positives are that the majority of our squad are playing football and playing well.

“If I attack my player head-on, I sympathize with Danny, if I attack my manager head-on, no, but with my player head-on, of course I understand.

“It’s sometimes difficult and not easy to just get away when there are wages, benefits and all kinds of things involved, you have no control over them.”

Gary Lineker is calling for a major change to the FA Cup rules after Chelsea eliminated their beloved Leicester in a thrilling match

Ward, 30, was on the bench during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.

But his preparation is hardly ideal for Thursday’s play-off semi-final against Finland in Cardiff.

Page added: “He has played in a few under-23s games, he said he was going to do that and he has, I think he has played three or four.

“It doesn’t depend on the level, we know that, but he has at least made the effort to play matches.

“In all positions it is important to have that rhythm of playing matches.

“We’ve done it before in the past, we’ve never had the luxury of the number of players playing now. We’ll keep them informed and ready for the game.”

Ipswich’s Wes Burns is unlikely to be fit after limping off with a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 6-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Wycombe’s Joe Low has withdrawn due to a minor hamstring injury.