ALTHOUGH Wales welcome Spain to Cardiff tomorrow evening, Ryan Giggs will have one eye on next Tuesday’s match against the Republic the Ireland in Dublin.

Ryan is still in his early days as Wales manager, but he will only have to cast his mind back a month to recall how we thrashed the Irish team at home and how three days later, we lost our edge in Denmark.

For every international, you have to try and be at your best, so keeping the players fresh and ready for the intensity of back-to-back games is something that Ryan will no doubt be aware of.

Some changes will be forced upon him due to injury, but I feel he will also keep some key players back for the trip to Dublin. Then again, he may decide to play the team against Spain that will start in Dublin and make use of his seven substitutions at half time to keep players on their toes.

Some of the players, like Ben Davies, Chris Gunter, James Chester and Ashley Williams will play, I’m sure, because they haven’t had regular games recently.

In selecting the team, it’s not just a matter of who will play, but also how long they play. There will be doors opened for some of the lads to come in and make their claim for a permanent place.

Aaron Ramsey will play for sure. When you look at his situation at Arsenal, and the way they pulled the rug from under his feet over his new contract, this is a chance for him to impress. He could potentially be making the move to the continent in January, so he will want to create a good impression.

This is Wales’ first game at the Principality Stadium in seven years, so it’s going to be a great experience for all the players, to play there against one of the best teams in the world.

Spain beat Croatia 6-0 last month, after going through a transition after the World Cup. We must remember that three months ago, Croatia lost to France in the World Cup final, so it’s going to be a massive task for Wales to get a result.

But what a game and what a spectacle for Welsh football fans everywhere. And if you can’t make it there, you can watch it all live with me on S4C.

Bring it on, I say. But I will have one eye on next Tuesday. At home, the Republic will be better than they were last month, but if Ryan plays his cards right from now till then, we will win in Dublin.

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Sam Rickett’s good start as Wrexham manager is rolling on with 31 points from 15 games.

Looking back over the last 10 years, if you average two points a game during the season, nine times out of 10 – as Wrexham supporters will vouch - you will get promoted.

The Reds lie fourth, only a few points behind Salford City, and are in prime position to pounce.

I’m sure Sam will be really pleased with the defence so far this season, but there is more to come attacking-wise. I feel that there is one piece of the jig-saw that they need to get their rhythm going.

The main objective is to keep getting results and Sam and the team are doing that. A team that gets promoted are never perfect after a quarter of the season, but the potential for them to get better each week is there and that will be their challenge.

Momentum is a key element in this league because the games come thick and fast. Another three points at Dagenham and Redbridge, who are third from bottom, this weekend, will be the only thing on the Reds’ agenda this this week.

Keep it going, Sam.

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Malcolm Allen is part of S4C’s Sgorio presentation team. Sgorio will have live coverage of Wales v Spain tomorrow night, from 7.25pm, as well as Wales’ Nations League clash versus the Republic of Ireland, from 7.25pm next Tuesday. The Sgorio team will also be showing live coverage of Connah’s Quay Nomads v Coleraine in the Scottish Challenge Cup from 7.20pm on Saturday, English commentary available.