Wales are on a four-year high after their 2-0 Euro Championship win against Azerbaijan and are back in Cardiff feeling positive.
That is a first European Championship qualifying away win since September 2015 (v Cyprus under Chris Coleman).
Ryan Giggs and his team will finish second in group E if they beat Hungary at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Manager Giggs rated the Welsh display as ‘up there with one of our best performances and the squad has been strengthened by the arrival of two players.
Aberdeen winger Ryan Hedges has been called up, while Joe Allen is available for the Hungary match after completing his suspension.
“Some of the quality of play was outstanding,” said Giggs. “Since the Azerbaijan game at home [in September], we’ve improved.
🏴 DIWEDDARIAD CARFAN | SQUAD UPDATE 🏴
Ryan Hedges has been called up to the squad and will join training this afternoon.
Croeso Ryan!#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/7szRr5fg03
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 17, 2019
“We’ve played some difficult teams, Slovakia, Croatia, but overall the performances have improved.
“We started to gain some sort of momentum, which isn’t easy in international football. The lads came into camp really confident. The last few games, it doesn’t matter whose come in, they have all contributed.
“Azerbaijan is not an easy place to come and the pressure, so it’s up there with one of our best performances.”
Joe Morrell, currently on loan at Lincoln City from Bristol City, was given the task of filling Allen’s midfield role against Azerbaijan.
Bale hopes to start both Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey against Hungary having sent ‘Rambo’ on for Bale after an hour in Baku.
“It was a difficult decision,” said Giggs. “I thought if both started, then at least one of them wouldn’t be able to play on Tuesday.
“We still have to assess it. It couldn’t have gone any better regarding minutes – getting Gareth off pretty early and giving Aaron some minutes as well. When he came on he showed his quality, his composure.
DIOLCH! 👏🙌👏🙌
🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴#YWâlGoch#TheRedWall#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/OprBvcyGIq
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 16, 2019
“It’s a quick turnaround. Gareth was blowing a little bit which you can expect, but hopefully I’ll have the option to start both on Tuesday all being well.”
Goals from Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson kept Wales on course to qualify for the next round. Croatia have completed their fixtures after earning a 3-1 win over Slovakia in Rijeka, and will finish top of group E, while Wales are one point behind second-placed Hungary.
A home win at Cardiff City Stadium would send Wales through.
Kieffer Moore’s second international goal gave Wales a 10th-minute lead against Azerbaijan.
FT | 🇦🇿 0-2 | #AZEWAL
🗣 Ryan Giggs on the win in Baku.#TogetherStronger https://t.co/vdM7jupuKD
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 16, 2019
Wales doubled their lead after 34 minutes when Dan James smashed a shot against the underneath of the bar before the ball hit a post and bounced out for Wilson to head into an empty net.
Azerbaijan: Balayev, Pashayev, Mustafazade, B Huseynov, Krivotsyuk (Khalilzade 46), Garayev (capt), Richard Almeida, A Abdullayev (Ramazanov 64), Nazarov (J Huseynov 82), S Rahimov, Sheydaev. Subs not used: S Agayev, Dzhenetov, Makhmudov, Isgandarli, Jamalov, Aliyev, A Huseynov, Ren Dadasov.
Wales: Hennessey, C Roberts, Mepham, Lockyer, B Davies, Morrell, Ampadu (Vaulks 87), Bale, capt (Ramsey 59), Wilson, James (Matondo 82), Moore. Subs not used: A Davies, King, Gunter, J Lawrence, A Williams, Smith, Vokes, Levitt, T Roberts.
Referee: Deniz Aytekin