Rob Page insists he has no concerns around captain Gareth Bale's focus for Wales this summer, despite increasing speculation over his next move.
Bale is set to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign and rumours over his future are rife. Hometown club Cardiff City are currently the bookies' favourites for a move, while former club Tottenham, and teams in MLS, have similarly been mooted as possible destinations.
In an interview with WalesOnline, agent Jonathan Barnett has already confirmed that the forward will now wait to see whether Wales can make it to the World Cup later this year before making any decision about his future - a scenario echoed by Page. Wales will take on either Scotland or Ukraine in Cardiff on Sunday, June 5, and Bale is set to play a big part in his team's bid to earn a first World Cup spot since 1958.
Read more: Rob Page announces Wales squad for crucial World Cup play-off final clash
Quizzed on where he thought Bale could end up, Page said: “I think everybody is probably thinking the same thing. It will depend on how results go with regards to what he does next season with a club. The only person who can answer that is Gareth. All I know is whenever he turns up for us he is first-class.
"He showed it again and showed his class against Austria with a world-class free-kick. It is not just what he does on the pitch, it is what he does off the pitch as well.
"The full focus on himself is winning this game against Ukraine or Scotland so he can worry about that after. He is here for the full duration, he has made that really clear to me."
There is a chance Bale may well be involved for Real Madrid in the upcoming Champions League final with Liverpool on May 28, which Page insists won't alter his plans for the coming weeks.
“I think Gareth puts himself when he is fit to be available for Real Madrid like he does with us," he added. “It is down to the manager, then, whether he wants to select him or not in the squad. I think he is confident he will be involved and we will wait and see whether he is involved. We will then get him in camp as soon as we can.”
Meanwhile, Page has give his full backing to Aaron Ramsey following the midfielder's penalty miss for Rangers in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Ramsey was the only player to miss from the spot during a tense shootout, costing Rangers a first European title in 50 years. The former Arsenal star was visibly distraught after the game, but Page has moved to give him his full support.
“It happens to the best in the world," he added. “Top players, they put themselves up. I am so proud of him for putting himself up, he is a world-class footballer.
“He had the courage and conviction to take a penalty. Top players recover from that, no problem. I have no doubt whatsoever if it comes to penalties that he will take one.”
One man not included in Page's plans is Tom Lawrence, who has once again been omitted from Page's squad despite a string of assured showings for Derby County. Rams boss Wayne Rooney had previously called on Page to forget his "history" with the midfielder and recall him to the squad.
When quizzed on the 28-year-old's absence, Page replied: "When you've got a formula, and I'm a loyal manager and man... when you've got that success and you're winning, it's very hard to change it. At the minute you've got someone like Brennan Johnson, who's going to be the future of Welsh football, playing exceptionally well. When you've got people like that it's not just about the games, it's about the environment we're trying to create.
"That's really important for us and it's just personal opinion. I've got to pick a squad that I think will qualify us for the World Cup.
"I think Tom was disappointed after the Euros for not being involved in the squad. But again, I had a decision to make. I wanted to expose people like Rubin Colwill to that, [who] again I can see will have a bright future with Wales.
"There are tough decisions to make and we'll have a conversation after. Like I said, everything's been put together and fine. We move forward. We're both adults and we've got to get on with it."
