Wales will be looking to keep their positive run going when they take on USA in an international friendly at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Thursday.

The Dragons have lost only one of their last 11 matches, though they will be without boss Ryan Giggs for the first of three November fixtures to conclude their 2020 campaign.

Match preview

Wales midfielder Jonathan Williams celebrates scoring against Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League on October 14, 2020 © Reuters

The performances may not have been great, but Wales can be happy with their return of results in what has been a difficult year in the world of sport.

Wales have won three of their four Nations League Group B4 matches by the same 1-0 scoreline, scoring the winning goal in minutes 80, 85 and 94.

Their only other competitive match this year finished in a dire goalless draw away to Republic of Ireland, with Giggs's men perhaps fortunate to leave Dublin with a point.

All that leaves the Dragons top of their group ahead of their concluding games against Ireland and Finland over the next week or so, both in Cardiff.

Win those matches and Wales will earn promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, seeing them compete against the top-ranked nations in Europe.

Thursday's friendly against the United States is very much a chance for Wales to experiment a little, but the build-up to the match has been far from ideal.

Head coach Giggs will not be in the dugout, having stepped down for all three upcoming matches while an investigation is conducted into an off-the-field matter.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs pictured in September 2020 © Reuters

Robert Page is tasked with watching over the USA, Ireland and Finland games and will be looking to put his mark on the team, which could mean some youngsters being used.

Opponents USA are themselves in good form ahead of this match, though, having won their last three games 4-1 vs. Canada, 4-0 vs. Cuba and 1-0 vs. Costa Rica.

However, the Stars and Stripes have won only one of their last seven against Home Nations (D3 L3), beating Scotland 5-1 in May 2012.

This will be Wales's first game against USA since May 2007 - their longest gap between meetings with a side since facing Belarus last year some 18 years after their last encounter.

Wales form (all competitions): WWWLDW

USA form (all competitions): DWLWWW

Team News

Gareth Bale pictured in Wales training on September 5, 2020 © Reuters

Gareth Bale is back in Wales's squad after missing the October fixtures, but Aaron Ramsey has withdrawn with a minor injury.

Chris Gunter could reach a century of caps for Wales if he plays in all three games over the next week or so, but his only run-out is likely to come in this game.

The hosts have a goalkeeping crisis of sorts, with Wayne Hennessey and Adam Davies injured, so Leicester City's Danny Ward seems certain to start all three matches.

As for the USA, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna is one of 10 players in line to make their senior international debut against either Wales or Panama.

With the MLS season reaching its conclusion, Gregg Berhalter has a 24-man group of mainly European-based players, though Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic has since pulled out.

This will be the United States' first match since February, so they will have a different look to them on the back of that 1-0 win over Costa Rica.

Wales possible starting lineup:
Ward; Gunter, Lockyer, J.Lawrence, Norrington-Davies; Smith, Levitt; J.Williams; T.Lawrence, T.Roberts, Matondo

USA possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Dest, Miazga, Brooks, Robinson; McKennie, Adams, Lletget; Reyna, Soto, Llanez

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We say: Wales 2-0 USA

USA have been in good form, winning four of their last five and keeping three clean sheets, while Wales have lost just one of their last 11 games in all competitions.

The Dragons have conceded only once in seven outings and should have enough quality to overcome USA in this first of three straight home matches.

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