Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has been handed the captain's armband for Wales' international friendly against the Netherlands this Wednesday.

Manager Chris Coleman will take his team to Amsterdam for the encounter against a side tipped among the favourites for the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

In the absence of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams, Coleman said he had 'no qualms' about selecting the Reds man as his skipper for the occasion.

"It's something that I never thought twice about," he continued. "In the second half of the season he was really, really outstanding.

"I think the way we play, Joe is at the heart of that. He's a very brave player, one of the bravest players I've experienced working with in terms of he always wants the ball.

"It doesn't matter whether he's having a good time or a bad time he just keeps going to get the ball and he leads within his play."

The 24-year-old made 26 appearances for Liverpool during the recently-concluded campaign in helping Brendan Rodgers' side to finish second in the Barclays Premier League.