Wales manager Chris Coleman has confirmed that injured Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss the country's opening World Cup qualifier next month.
Ramsey was left out of Coleman's squad for the Sept. 5 match against Moldova after injuring his hamstring in the Gunners' season-opening loss to Liverpool on Aug. 14.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said last week the injury was only minor and that the midfielder is expected back after the international break.
His injury is a blow to Wales, though, as Ramsey played a key part in the team's surprising run to the semifinals at Euro 2016 this summer. They then struggled without him as he served a suspension in the loss to eventual champions Portugal.
"You take him out of any team [and] he's irreplaceable almost," Coleman said. "He makes a huge impact and he's a great player."
A dyma'r garfan fydd yn wynebu Moldova... #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/EtvLDm0Ufa
- FA Wales (@FAWales) August 24, 2016
Wales enter qualifying with high expectations of making their first World Cup since 1958, but Coleman made it clear they can't bask in the glory of their run at the European Championship once qualifying starts.
"I'm very proud of Wales and what we achieved. But it's what's next now," Coleman said. "It's not [about] recreating what we had in France. It's creating something different for a different challenge."
Also not in the Wales squad is midfielder David Vaughan, who has retired from international football.
Vaughan was Wales' longest-serving player after making his international debut in a 2-0 away defeat to the United States in May 2003. The 33-year-old was in the Wales squad that reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals this summer, but he remained an unused substitute throughout the campaign.
Coleman described Vaughan as a "great servant" for his country and added: "If he did change his mind, the door would be open for him."