Davies doubtful for Wales

Fulham midfielder Simon Davies is almost certainly out of Wales' friendly double-header next week.

The 28-year-old has been Wales' stand-in skipper for the last four unbeaten matches in the long-term absence of Craig Bellamy, but an ankle injury is expected to rule him out of Wednesday's match against Iceland in Reykjavik and the following Sunday's game against Holland in Rotterdam.

Davies played a key part in Fulham's dramatic and successful battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League and was nursed through the final games of the campaign as the injury worsened.

Now Fulham want the Haverfordwest-born player to rest during the summer. The Football Association of Wales medical team will discuss the situation with the west London club over the weekend, but Davies is not expected to be on the plane to Iceland on Tuesday.

Wales will also be without Hull pair Boaz Myhill and Sam Ricketts for the Iceland match.

The Yorkshire club want all their first-team squad to take part in a open-top bus tour of the city on Monday, regardless of whether they are successful in their Championship play-off final against Bristol City.

Both will link up with Wales later in the week for the Holland match, where they will be joined by veteran midfielder Carl Robinson, who will be needed by his club side Toronto early next week.

Plymouth's Jermaine Easter has also pulled out as he recovers from tendinitis, while midfielder David Vaughan will also miss both games with his club side, Real Sociedad, in the race for promotion from the Spanish Second Division.

However, the 25-year-old has barely been involved in the Sociedad first-team since former manager Chris Coleman was sacked mid-season, and he is likely to return to British football in time for next season.