Thursday Football Tips: Back Williams and Wilson for Wales

Wales v Austria
Thursday 24 March, 19:45 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports

Only one game for us to look at today and that’s the huge World Cup play-off going down in Cardiff as Wales welcome Austria for their semi-final.

The bookies can’t split them but maybe home advantage can count for Robert Page’s side as they look to make the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

It’s such a long time to wait but with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in the line-up and riding a 16-game unbeaten home run they’ve every chance of creating Welsh history.

There’d still be one game to go after this one if Wales can get through, against Scotland or Ukraine whenever they can play that game, so the wait will go on a little longer even if Wales win this one.

It’ll be a tough game but Wales have enough to get this job done, and the good thing about them is that they don’t just have to rely on Bale and Ramsey as they’ve spread goals around of late.

Bale and Ramsey will both start in Cardiff and are 3.211/5 and 5.95/1 respectively to score but they’re both well short of match fitness and may not be able to last the distance.

Bale has played only 78 minutes for Real Madrid this season while Ramsey has just 118 minutes for Rangers so it’s a big ask to get through possibly 120 minutes of such a big game.

They are big game players though and a lot of good things happen when these two play, but Wales have some in-form and exciting other options we can look at.

Liverpool full-back Neco Williams has been outstanding on loan at Fulham and has a goal and an assist in his last three games for Wales, along with eight shots and two on target.

If Page plays a back three then Williams will have an even more advanced role and could be a real sense of creativity for the Welsh out wide.

He’s certainly not scared of shooting as he’s had two shots in each of his last four games – which included him scoring twice for Fulham at Swansea.

Williams has had a shot on target in his last two Wales games yet is a big price here at 4.57/2 to have another – he’s well worth backing.

Williams’ former Liverpool and current Fulham team-mate Harry Wilson is also in great form for his club with 11 goals and 14 assists this season.

Wilson, who has just turned 25, also has three assists in his last three games for Wales and is 4.216/5 to score and 6.05/1 for an assist.

Wales also have Daniel James playing regularly with Leeds and Nottingham Forest’s young winger Brennan Johnson looking a real player as he helps his side power towards promotion.

Johnson is still only 20, but has 12 goals and six assists this season and looked right at home playing against Liverpool in the FA Cup, he may just surprise the Austrians even if it’s from off the bench.