Wales boss Mark Hughes has taken the gamble of including Craig Bellamy in his
squad for the European Championship qualifier in Finland next month.
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Bellamy: International call-up
(Tom Shaw/Allsport) |
Bellamy has not played a full match since his summer knee operation, but did
have an hour of a practice game on Thursday.
Hughes desperately wants the PFA young player of the year in Helsinki, and has
taken the risk of calling him up - although the Cardiff-born youngster may not have played a Premiership game before the
international.
Hughes checked with Sir Bobby Robson over Bellamy's likely fitness before
naming a 25-man squad.
Hughes has recalled most of the players who pulled out of the midweek draw in
Croatia, but Norwich striker Iwan Roberts - who makes way for Bellamy - and Huddersfield full back Steve Jenkins are not included.
Two players who were late additions to a depleted squad - Northampton's Paul
Trollope and Cardiff's Rhys Weston - keep their places in the party.
Wales squad: Jones (Southampton),
Crossley (Middlesbrough), Ward (Nottm For), Coyne (Grimsby), Barnard (Grimsby),
Delaney (Aston Villa), Weston (Cardiff), Gabbidon (Cardiff), Page (Sheffield U),
Melville (Fulham), Trollope (Northampton), Johnson (WBA), Speed (Newcastle), C
Robinson (Portsmouth), Pembridge (Everton), Davies (Tottenham), Savage
(Birmingham), Koumas (Tranmere), Evans (Bradford), Hartson (Celtic), Earnshaw
(Cardiff), Taylor (Burnley), Bellamy (Newcastle), Blake (Wolves), Giggs (Man
Utd).
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