Wales’s Rob Page plans to sound out Chris Coleman for Euro 2020 advice

Rob Page has said he would be foolish not to reach out to Chris Coleman before leading Wales at the European Championship. Coleman guided the country to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and on Wednesday his former assistant Kit Symons joined Page’s backroom staff in the wake of Ryan Giggs’s continued absence.

Page will take charge of Wales this summer after Giggs was charged with domestic abuse against his ex‑partner and her sister, which he denies. Page, who deputised for Giggs for six matches between November and March, will lead Wales alongside Albert Stuivenberg, also an assistant to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.

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“Of course, difficult circumstances, there’s no hiding from that,” Page said. “But now there’s clarity with the situation – for players, supporters and the FAW [Football Association of Wales].

“From the staff’s point of view, we’re fully focused on what’s ahead and we’re all looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity for the boys to compete against the best in Europe and show what we’re capable of doing.”

Page hopes Wales can replicate their success under Coleman. “We have set a high bar from before and of course we want to match that, so we want to just continue along this path,” Page said.

“We have got a couple of tough friendlies [against France and Albania in June] and some great camps coming up to get us all together. Mentally and physically they will all be ready.”

Asked whether he planned to speak to Coleman before Wales kick off their delayed Euro 2020 finals campaign against Switzerland next month, Page said: “Yes, absolutely. I spoke and met with Kit, and he’s obviously close with Chris. He sees him quite regularly and he has echoed that sentiment that Chris is there if needs be.

“Of course, when you have got friends in the game that have been through that experience and witnessed it first hand it would be foolish of me not to phone him and speak to him.”

Page will name his squad by 1 June and expects the Tottenham full-back Ben Davies and the Stoke midfielder Joe Allen to be fit despite calf injuries. “The 26-man squad gives us a bit of grace to get them back on track,” Page said.

“They’ll be there, it’s about how soon we can get them in [the team]. The plan [is] to build them back to full fitness in a sympathetic way.”