Nottingham Forest striker Rob Earnshaw will captain Wales in tonight's Carling Nations Cup game against Scotland in Dublin.

The 30-year-old, who will be winning his 53rd cap, will take the armband from regular skipper Aaron Ramsey, who is being rested along with a number of other Premier League players.

With former captain Craig Bellamy also unlikely to feature at the Aviva Stadium, Earnshaw will be manager Gary Speed's most experienced player.

Ramsey, whose domestic season only ended on Sunday, is expected to return for Friday's game against Northern Ireland.

Speed said: "With the close proximity of the games, it's a bit too much to ask the players to play both at this stage of the season.

"The team tomorrow will probably be 90% lads who didn't play on Sunday.

"My top priority is not only to win the game but look after the health of the players.

"The schedule we have been given has made us make those decisions.

"So, Earnie will be captain. He's quite a cool guy and took it in his stride but I am sure he was happy inside.’’ Speed's decision not use many Premier League players probably rules out the likes of Wayne Hennessey, Jack Collison, Danny Collins, Neal Eardley and David Vaughan.

Wales travelled to Dublin without Aston Villa defender James Collins and Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley, who become the latest players to withdraw from the squad.

Newport’s Collins suffered a groin injury against Liverpool at the weekend while Ledley had been a major doubt with a hamstring injury.

Defender Adam Matthews, who is joining Celtic from Cardiff, has beenb drafted into the squad.

Owain Tudur Jones, Craig Morgan, Andy Dorman and Jermaine Easter have also been added in recent days.

David Edwards, Lewin Nyatanga and Ched Evans all pulled out injured while Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu are still on club duty.