Aston Villa left-back Neil Taylor has withdrawn from the Wales squad with an injury, according to Express & Star reporter Matt Maher.
The reliable journalist claimed via his personal Twitter account on Wednesday that Taylor, 29, has been ruled out of Wales’ upcoming fixtures against Denmark and Albania with an injury he suffered in the 3-0 win at Derby on Saturday.
Neil Taylor has pulled out of the Wales squad through injury. Left-back went off at half-time during Villa's win over Derby. #avfc
— matt maher (@mjmarr_star) November 14, 2018
Taylor has started every single game for Aston Villa since Dean Smith was hired to replace Steve Bruce, but looks as though he could be set for a spell on the sidelines after his blow at Pride Park.
OPINION
Smith needs to hope and pray that Taylor is not out for long because he has no other left-backs in his squad. The Wales international had been axed by Bruce before Smith took charge at Villa Park with Alan Hutton being picked to play at left-back instead. However Hutton is clearly better suited on his natural side at right-back and Taylor, despite not playing that well in his time at Villa, is better off being played at left-back. Villa need the January transfer window to come around really because they need reinforcements in their defence. Bruce somehow left himself with a squad that has more right-backs than natural centre-backs and just one left-back that he didn’t even like playing. It was bizarre that Bruce managed to last so long into the season before being sacked. Hopefully Smith doesn’t like shooting himself in the foot in the transfer market like his predecessor did.