GARY Speed has received an 11th hour blow before his first match in charge of Wales with the news that midfield talisman Aaron Ramsey has pulled out of the squad to play the Republic of Ireland with a mystery injury.

The Arsenal youngster, currently on a one-month loan at Cardiff City, looked back to his best in the Bluebirds' 1-0 victory at deadly rivals Swansea City yesterday but pulled out of Tuesday's Carling Nations Cup opener in Dublin late last night.

Swansea's Joe Allen had been called up from the under-21s but suffered a calf injury in the derby defeat.

Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards (ankle) and Sheffield United striker Ched Evans (virus) have also withdrawn.

Speed has already been hit by the withdrawals of West Bromich Albion keeper Boaz Myhill and Preston defender Craig Morgan (ankle).

West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon (hamstring), strikers Craig Bellamy (knee) and Millwall's Steve Morison and Tottenham star Gareth Bale (back) are also absent.

Crystal Palace trio Jermaine Easter, Lewis Price and Andy Dorman have been called up as replacements, as have defenders Darcy Blake and Lewin Nyatanga, and striker Sam Vokes.

Wales squad: J Brown (Blackburn), W Hennessey (Wolves), L Price (C Palace); D Collins (Stoke), J Collins (Aston Villa), N Eardley (Blackpool), D Blake (Cardiff City), C Gunter (Nottingham Forest), S Ricketts (Bolton), A Williams (Swansea) L Nyatanga (Bristol C); A Crofts (Norwich), A King (Leicester), J Ledley (Celtic), D Vaughan (Blackpool) (A Dorman (C Palace); S Church (Reading), R Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), F Eastwood (Coventry), S Vokes (Wolves) H Robson-Kanu (Reading), J Easter (Crystal Palace).