WALES manager Chris Coleman says Joe Ledley’s involvement is the biggest decision he has to make ahead of Euro 2016.

The Crystal Palace midfielder suffered a leg fracture on May 7 and is in a race against time to be part of Wales' campaign in France.

The 29-year-old has travelled with the rest of the squad to Portugal for a training camp and Coleman will give him as long as possible to prove his fitness before naming his final 23-man squad on May 31.

Coleman said: “It’s so disappointing for Joe that we’re in this position and thinking ‘can he or can’t he?’

“He’s done as much as anybody to get us there.

“He’s important to us on the pitch – he’s done a great job. And off the pitch he’s a top lad, a great lad.

“And that’s the biggest decision I’m going to have to make in the 23. I know my 23 now but the big one is Joe.

“It’s just about timelines and hoping and praying that it’s going to be a good one for Joe.

“It’s not going to be easy but I talked to him two days ago and he was in a good mood.

“He was walking around unaided and that’s a good sign.

“It will be the medical team saying to me he’s going to be ready here, here or here and then we have to make a choice – can we wait a bit longer or are we going to run out of time?”

Coleman rejected the suggestion that he could include Ledley if he is only available for the knockout phase.

“Realistically it’s all on those first three games,” said the national manager.

“Maybe if you’re Spain or Germany and you’re used to being in semi-finals and finals you can think like that.

“We’ve got to think ‘how are we going to get out of the group?’ and we can’t think beyond that.

“I’ve got a duty to put a squad of players together to give us the best chance of getting out of that group.

“And that’s a conversation I’ve got to have with the medical team – what are his chances of playing some part in those initial three games? What chance has he got?”

But Coleman will invite the former Cardiff City and Celtic player to travel to France even if he is not fit enough to be part of the squad.

“He’ll come with us anyway – that is a no-brainer,” he said. “He’s so well respected by everyone – by the players and the staff that he’ll be great to have around the place.

“But he’s not going to want that. He’s wants to be involved.”