IPSWICH Town goalkeeper Lewis Price has withdrawn from the Wales squad to face Northern Ireland in Belfast tomorrow.The 22-year-old played in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace and Wales were assured he was fit to drive to Cardiff to link up with the rest of the squad.

IPSWICH Town goalkeeper Lewis Price has withdrawn from the Wales squad to face Northern Ireland in Belfast tomorrow.

The 22-year-old played in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace and Wales were assured he was fit to drive to Cardiff to link up with the rest of the squad.

But on arrival at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, it was soon clear after a medical examination that Price had a thigh strain - which meant he was immediately sent back to Ipswich.

An FA of Wales spokesman said: “Our medical people examined Lewis when he got to us and decided his thigh strain would stop him playing on Tuesday.”

The loss of Price has plunged the Welsh into a goalkeeping crisis after losing both their first choice keepers inside 24 hours.

On Saturday night Sunderland's Darren Ward pulled out of Tuesday's friendly with a hamstring injury.

The loss of Price and Ward gives Welsh manager John Toshack severe problems as Burnley goalkeeper Coyne has not played a senior match for over 18 months due to a serious knee problem.

Toshack's other goalkeeping choice is 39-year-old Paul Jones, who is currently out of the QPR side.