Wales boss Bellamy won't push Ramsey on his future

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Craig Bellamy says he will not push Aaron Ramsey amid uncertainty surrounding the playmaker's future ahead of Wales' World Cup play-off campaign.

Ramsey has been without a club since leaving Mexican outfit Pumas in December - with his last minutes for the Liga MX team coming in September.

Free agent Ramsey, 35, recently teamed up with Welsh icons including Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs at the Reignwood Icons of Football golf event in Thailand.

But with the play-offs just shy of two months away, Wales boss Bellamy stated he will continue to leave Ramsey to determine his own future plans.

"I haven't spoken to Rambo for a bit. I feel it's my duty to allow him the time," said Bellamy.

"I'm not planning with him, I'm not planning without him. This is a decision that he makes, when you've been as good as he has for us and as good as he has in general, this is his decision.

"He'll speak when he wants to speak."

Ramsey featured just six times for Pumas, but scored the winner to earn his side a 1-0 victory over Atlas on 31 August.

The former Arsenal man endured a tough time off the field in Mexico following the disappearance of his family's dog, Halo.

After returning to his homeland, Ramsey was in the dugout for Wales' 7-1 thrashing of North Macedonia in their final World Cup qualifier and trained at the Football Association of Wales' Vale Resort base.

"If he feels he's ready to go and he wants to keep going, we go and we'll see where you are and then we'll come to that decision. If you feel it's the end of the day and it's not for you, tell me where you want your statue," added Bellamy.

"It's not about what I want, it's about him. He's more important.

"Would I love a fit Aaron Ramsey at the top of his game? All day long. But I don't always get what I want."

The Wales boss added: "I think we need to respect our athletes, our Welsh ones we cherish.

"What you've done for us, what memories you've been able to give us, whatever time you need we'll give you, we aren't pushing you.

"We're not like other people, we take care of our own, we look after our own and whatever decision they choose, we back you no matter what."

Meanwhile, Ben Davies will miss Wales' play-off semi-final fixture with Bosnia and Herzegovina on 26 March, and the potential final against either Italy or Northern Ireland five days later, after sustaining an ankle injury during Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League contest with West Ham United in January.

But Bellamy was unable to confirm whether or not the versatile left-back would be available for the World Cup in the summer, should the Red Dragons qualify for the global showpiece.

"If Spurs say he's out until April what do you reckon (for World Cup play-offs)? I've spoken to him, but I believe you're ready when you're ready," Bellamy said of Davies.

"From my own experience of being injured, especially long-term ones, there's no real date on it.

"You'll drive yourself mad because you'll think 'you said this'. Your body's going to recover the way it recovers when it's ready."

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