Joe Ledley expects two tough games on his return to the Wales squad as Chris Coleman’s side go into their final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
With Serbia four points clear at the top of the group, the realistic aim for second-place Wales is to secure a play-off position, with the Republic of Ireland waiting in the wings just a single point behind.
The two sides face the prospect of a decider in the final group game, but Ledley is expecting a tricky test against Georgia in their first tie of the international break away in Tbilisi.
He told RamsTV: “We played Georgia at home last time and drew 2-2. It was a good game and they nearly went on to win so we know it’s going to be a very difficult game.
“We’ve drawn way too many games and we know that. It’s hard at international level now, before you could go out and beat these teams 3-0 or 4-0 but now it’s completely changed and we’ve learned that from experience.
“We know how to deal with pressure and international football, we’ll take it game by game, I’m sure there will be a few thousand Welsh fans out there.”
The tie against Ireland could potentially be a record-equalling occasion for the midfielder, as he currently lies on 73 caps – just two behind Dean Saunders as Wales’ fifth most capped player of all-time.
The first game between the sides at the Aviva Stadium ended goalless and was a typically aggressive affair, and Ledley expects no different when they meet in Cardiff on the 9th October.
He added: “We know what Ireland are about – it’s going to be physical, tough and they’ll be hard to beat.
“We just need to play our game and keep moving the ball.”
