Ryan Giggs admits leaving Ashley Williams out of his starting XI for Wales' Euro 2020 qualifying win over Slovakia was his biggest selection dilemma ahead of the game.
Williams has been struggling to get regular minutes at club level with Stoke City although he played from the outset in the 1-0 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago at Wrexham's Racecourse ground on Wednesday night.
He was expected to start against Pavel Hapal's side at Cardiff City Stadium but was left on the bench, with James Lawrence and Chris Mepham being chosen to operate at the heart of Wales' defence.
Williams did feature in the game though after replacing matchwinner Daniel James in the 72nd minute to earn his 85th Wales cap, taking him level with the tally amassed by Gary Speed.
And Giggs admits it was hugely tough to leave his regular skipper out of the team that took to the field against Slovakia.
"I talked about it all week and with the advantage that we had physically, I wanted every player to be playing regularly, and that was the only reason," said the Wales manager.
"With Ash, we gave him 60 minutes (against Trinidad and Tobago) and I still wasn't too sure up until yesterday. It was the only position really where I was deliberating.
"He came on and saw us home, and he's part of the plans going forward, but that was the only reason really."
James ultimately stole the headlines after scoring what has his first goal for Wales on only his second outing for his country.
The 21-year-old drilled home from just outside the area after robbing Peter Pekarik of possession as early as the fifth minute, with Wales going on to win 1-0 to get their qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.
And Giggs lavished praise on James for the way he brought his club form with Swansea to the international stage.
"He's brought his club form into the international stage and I'm delighted," added Giggs.
"His overall game was fantastic and to top it off with a goal was great. He was just a threat all day. He will be with that pace but he's got much more aswell.
"He can go either side, he's intelligent, he works hard and he's a great lad so I'm delighted he got the winning goal.
"That's what you want, you want players playing regularly and playing well for their club, obviously Dan's doing that at the moment.
"He's a talent. When you've got that raw pace, you're a threat at any level so as a winger, obviously for me playing as a winger, when I was younger, you then have to develop the other parts of your game which I feel he is doing.
"He's played up front aswell which will help him because that you an appreciation of what you need to do.
"He can play the position and he can play up front. He just needs to carry on doing what he's doing for Swansea, it's as simple as that."
