AARON Ramsey will again be absent when Wales continue their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign against Austria and Georgia next week.

The Arsenal midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during his club's opening Premier League game last month.

And Ramsey, who was arguably Wales' star performer during their memorable Euro 2016 campaign, has not been included in manager Chris Coleman's squad for the Austria game in Vienna next Thursday, which is followed by a Cardiff appointment with Georgia three days later.

Wales began their World Cup qualifying schedule with a 4-0 home win against Moldova, and Coleman will also be without Ipswich on-loan midfielder Jonny Williams, who has only recently returned to light training following injury.

There is a recall for Wigan midfielder Shaun MacDonald, though, who is preferred to George Williams.

Coleman's squad announcement press conference began with him being asked about Sam Allardyce's departure as England manager this week, and he said: "I am really disappointed for Sam. I was with him in Paris last week for a coaches' conference.

"I have known Sam a long time, and I knew how much he wanted the job and how proud he was he had got it. I am gutted for him that he has lost his job through events off the pitch, rather than on the pitch.

"I knew how passionate he was about the job, and I think he would have done a good job. You expect England to qualify (for the World Cup), and then you are judged on the tournament. Sam knows how to win big games. I think he would have done very well in the tournament.

"I know Sam will be absolutely devastated. He made a mistake, I think he has admitted that, and it's a shame. He has just let his guard down, and he has lost his job, which is a huge disappointment.

"Nowadays, the way it is, social media, you can't look left or right. It's crazy, really. I can't say I have ever felt that someone was trying to set me up. It's a shame where it has come to that when there is a chance you could be set up.

"But that's where we are, and we have to make sure we are aware all the time. You let your guard down for five minutes, and there is always someone there waiting to cast a cloud over you."

Wales squad for World Cup qualifiers against Austria (October 6) and Georgia (October 9): Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Ward (Liverpool), O F Williams (Inverness); Davies (Tottenham), Chester (Aston Villa), Collins (West Ham), Dummett (Newcastle), Gunter (Reading), Richards (Cardiff), Taylor (Swansea), A Williams (Everton); Allen (Stoke), Edwards (Wolves), Huws (Cardiff), King (Leicester), Lawrence (Leicester), Ledley (Crystal Palace), MacDonald (Wigan); Bale (Real Madrid), Church (Roda), Cotterill (Birmingham), Robson-Kanu (West Brom), Vokes (Burnley).