Ryan Giggs admits stopping Christian Eriksen is easier said than done as the Denmark dangerman attempts to sink Wales for the second time in as many months.

Eriksen ran the show and scored twice when Denmark beat Wales 2-0 in Aarhus in September.

The Tottenham playmaker missed Denmark’s dour 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland last month through injury, but he is back to take on Wales again in Cardiff with promotion to the top tier of the Nations League at stake.

Wales will need to find a way to stop Christian Eriksen
Wales will need to find a way to stop Christian Eriksen (Tim Goode/PA)

Victory for either side would see them join the elite of European football, while a draw would leave Denmark needing to beat the Republic in their final game at home to take top spot.

The winner would also move to within two games of qualifying for Euro 2020 through the Nations League play-offs.

“He’s a fantastic player and was the difference in Aarhus,” Giggs said of Eriksen at his pre-match press conference.

“We have to be aware of his qualities and we are.

“But it’s one thing setting out a plan to stop him, it’s another actually doing it.

Premier League teams have struggled to stop Christian Eriksen
Premier League teams have struggled to stop Christian Eriksen (Adam Davy/PA)

“He’s up there as one of the top Premier League performers, and he’s done it for a consistent amount in both scoring and making goals.

“He can be the difference, but it’s the same for them trying to stop our quality players hurting them.”

Wales’ own talisman Gareth Bale has been declared fit after picking up an ankle injury playing for Real Madrid on Sunday.

Bale has followed a different training routine this week to the one he is used to before games.

But the 29-year-old joined the rest of the squad for a Cardiff City Stadium training session on Thursday morning.

The squad were in relaxed mood and played ‘tag’ – where one player chases others in an attempt to touch them – at the start of the session.

“He’s good,” Giggs said. “He arrived a little bit later than the rest of the group after playing on Sunday evening.

“But he’s fine, he’s looked good this week and he’s ready.

“He had a little bit of a different programme earlier in the week, but the last couple of days he’s been good.”

Giggs has described the game as a “cup final” with the extra carrot of a potential route into the European Championship.

Ryan Giggs is hoping to lead his side to promotion
Ryan Giggs is hoping to lead his side to promotion (David Davies/PA)

Four teams who do not qualify through the conventional qualification process, which begins in March, will make Euro 2020 through the Nations League play-offs.

“There’s lots of incentives to top the group,” Giggs said.

“To actually win a competitive group would be great, and then you get a second bite of the cherry with regards to the Euros if you don’t qualify automatically.

“It will have an effect on the seedings come the Euro draw as well.

“It’s a new tournament, we wanted to win our first Nations League and it’s in our hands.”