Rob Page named his latest Wales squad on Tuesday and challenged his side to cope without injured Gareth Bale.
The Wales boss confirmed captain and record scorer Bale will miss their double-header this month against the Czech Republic and Estonia due to a hamstring injury.
The Real Madrid ace picked up the tear in training and has missed Real’s last six games.
But Bale is expected to be available for November’s final qualifiers in Group E against Belarus and Belgium at home.
Juventus ace Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad though and available to face the Czech Republic next week and Estonia on October 11.
Page said: “Gareth has been first class for Wales over the years, it is a blow. He is a great player.
“When you have players like that, you want them in your camp and fortunately he has been in the main.
“You grade hamstring injuries from one to four, and his is nearer the four so it's quite a significant hamstring tear.
"We've been in contact with him and our medical department to see how it's developing.
“This camp has come too soon for him unfortunately.
"Originally, it might have even progressed into November's camp, that is the significance of the injury, but thankfully he's recovering better than anticipated.
"We're pretty certain he'll be OK for November. This month it gives other people a chance to step up to the plate instead to show what they can do.
“Gareth Bale is a very special player who will be missed but we can’t cry about it.”
Bale played 90 minutes for Wales in both their games earlier this month including against Belarus, where he scored a hat-trick in the game, which was played in Russia due to political sanctions.
Page added: “He showed his worth in the last camp where I thought he was another level.
“But whether it was to do with the travelling and he had a build up of fatigue in his muscles, he has gone back and had a soft tissue injury.”
