The duo, who play for Liverpool and Leeds United, have been withdrawn from selection for the clashes with Scotland and Croatia due to shoulder and calf problems respectively

Joe Allen and Steve Morison have both been withdrawn from the Wales squad ahead of their two upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers away in Scotland and at home to Croatia.

Liverpool midfielder Allen had already been a doubt for selection due to an ongoing shoulder problem, as Reds boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed he will need surgery, while Leeds forward Morison is suffering from a calf injury.

The news represents a blow to Chris Coleman’s hopes of improving his side’s faint hopes of qualification for Brazil 2014, with both Allen and Morison key members of the Welsh squad.

23-year-old Allen had looked set to take part in the double header despite his troublesome shoulder injury. However, after being withdrawn at half time of Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday, the decision to operate has been brought forward by the club.

In response to Morison’s absence in particular, Coleman has called up Millwall striker Jermaine Easter, who is currently on loan at the New Den from Crystal Palace.

The 31-year-old, who has played 10 times for his country without finding the net, scored at the weekend on debut for his new club in a 2-0 victory at Charlton.

Wales currently lie second-bottom of Group A with only Scotland below them, the team that has provided Coleman’s men with their only three points of the qualification campaign so far.

The Reds’ faint top-four aspirations took a blow at St Mary’s on Saturday as Morgan Schneiderlin, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez consigned them to a 3-1 defeat

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted that his team must improve in defence if they are to return to the Premier League top four following their 3-1 defeat against Southampton.

Morgan Schneiderlin and Rickie Lambert gave the Saints a two-goal lead at St Mary’s and Philippe Coutinho’s goal was cancelled out by a late strike from Jay Rodriguez.

The Reds were without Jamie Carragher for the match on the south coast and have now conceded more goals away from home than any other top-half team.

“We just weren’t very good,” Rodgers told reporters. “We only started playing when we were 2-0 down. We didn’t defend well enough and you have to give credit to Southampton, who played very well.

“When the team starts as it has done, it is always difficult. There’s no question that [defence] is an area of the field we need to be better at. That is one of the reasons we brought Carragher back. I know it is one area we need to improve and develop as a group.

“We were unfortunate this week that a few of the players had niggles and missed training, like Lucas, who came on in the second half was excellent.

“It was a poor day at the office and the problem is we have to live with that for two weeks now [due to the international break].”

Rodgers acknowledged that the Reds had been left under no illusions regarding their shortcomings as they seek to rejoin the top flight elite.

“Today is a reminder that we still need to build a squad and need to improve,” he added. “The players can’t be brilliant every time they play. There are eight games left and we just have to concentrate on ourselves.”

Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, claimed he was unsurprised by his team’s performance as they moved seven points clear of relegation.

“The players don’t really impress me because I know them and how good they are,” he insisted. “What’s really important is they show their talent in all the games.

“I think we set out the game in a positive way, and I think the players totally believed in our system. We made Liverpool really uncomfortable, pressed them quite a lot and played a lot high up the field in their half.”

The Argentine coach reserved special praise for young defender Nathaniel Clyne, who turned in an impressive display against the likes of Coutinho and Luis Suarez at right-back.

“He has the potential and skill to one day play in the national team, if he keeps on playing like he did,” Pochettino said.

Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 15 points after a 1-0 win over Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone but the Red Devils failed to kick-on against the Royals in a less-than-entertaining first period.

And the below-par display continued after the break, with both sides failing to threaten the other, meaning Sir Alex Ferguson’s men take full advantage of Manchester City’s loss to Everton while their manager-less opponents remain in deep trouble at the bottom.

Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck all started for the hosts in an attacking line-up, while Nani (hamstring) missed the game and Alexander Buttner replaced Patrice Evra at the back.

Stuart Taylor continued in goal for the Royals, who were under the control of caretaker boss Eamonn Dolan after Brian McDermott’s sacking, while Pavel Pogrebnyak was left out despite being available after a three-match ban.

After a sluggish opening 15 minutes or so, Ashley Young collected a fine ball from Rio Ferdinand before flashing a shot narrowly wide of the post in the first half chance of the clash.

And the centre-half was again heavily involved as United got the breakthrough with 20 minutes played. Ferdinand expertly carried the ball up from the back, before finding Rooney whose strike deflected off Alex Pearce and looped over Taylor.

Welbeck then dragged a shot wide, with Rooney and Van Persie sending long-range efforts into the keeper’s arms, as Ferguson’s men comfortably dominated possesion but just failed to create any clear chances against a stubborn Royals defence.

Hal-Robson Kanu went inches from an equaliser with a superb, curling left-footed effort from outside the United box, in the visitors’ first shot at goal, but the score remained 1-0 at the half-time whistle.

Reading started the second period much brighter and were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Nemanja Vidic shoved Adrian Mariappa to floor in the box.

However they struggled to create any chances of note as the match became scrappy, with both sides allowing sloppiness to creep into their already lacklustre play.

The Red Devils finally sprung back into action with about an hour played as Welbeck had a strike deflected wide and Van Persie and Young saw efforts rise over the bar.

Taylor then palmed away a powerful Van Persie free-kick as the slight pressure continued, but it only lasted for a matter of minutes before the match returned to its former uninspiring standard.

Reading offered little in attack as they searched for another late goal, and it was in fact the hosts who went closest to a second through a Rooney pile-driver and a neat effort from Giggs in the last five minutes.

Van Persie then also shot acrobatically over the bar very late on before the hosts held firm to grind out another win that puts even more space between them and rivals City.