NEWPORT’S James Collins could be in line to start in the biggest game in Welsh football history.

Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies are both suspended for tomorrow’s Euro 2016 semi-final showdown with Portugal, meaning Wales manager Chris Coleman will be forced to change the side that battled back to beat Belgium in the quarter-final.

Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams looks favourite to replace Ramsey and in defence Coleman looks likely to bring in either Collins or Jazz Richards.

If Fulham full-back Richards gets the nod it will mean him slotting in at right wing-back and Newport-born Chris Gunter shifting into the back three alongside Ashley Williams and James Chester.

If it is West Ham United centre-back Collins who comes in it would mean Gunter would stay in the wide right role, from where he crossed for Sam Vokes’ third against Belgium.

Coleman says he has made his decision but he’s giving nothing away.

“We brought seven defenders because of the formation we play,” he explained. “All of them I know well, they are all well drilled. They know what I want from that set up.

“They can play different positions. Ben [Davies] and Ches can play full-backs, Gunts can play centre-half. Collins is an obvious slot in.”

Coleman is a big fan of Richards, who played an important role in qualifying, but may be tempted to opt for the experience of 32-year-old Collins.

“Professional players are different to my day but Ginge is the closest to my era that I have seen in the modern day player,” said the Wales boss.

“He is older than most of our boys. He has been there and seen it. He has that experience and is a bit different. They can't all be like choirboys. You need something in there that's a little bit different and he is that.

“In this trip, it's not so much the guys that are playing, it's the guys that are not. It's hard for them. They've had six weeks.

“With 23 players, four of them haven't had minutes on the pitch. It's tough. You've got to try to keep them up.

“The guys who haven't been playing have been different class and Ginge is probably the biggest voice amongst them all. We put him on [as a late substitute] against Belgium and he came on and his mind was right, because he's trained hard.

“So if it is the big man on Wednesday, I won't have a worry. He knows the drill, he knows what's needed and I'm sure he'll give us whatever he's got.

“If the big man slots in, I won't have any worries."

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