Toshack seeks answers over trio
by Chris Stanton, 25 March 2008
John Toshack is planning talks with West Ham to find out just how long Wales will continue to be without Craig Bellamy, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins.
Toshack, who will send out an experimental team to face Luxembourg in an international friendly on Wednesday, is increasingly concerned about the injured trio’s future participation as he steps up his side’s preparations for their forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bellamy has been struggling for most of the season with a groin problem, as has Gabbidon, while Collins is unlikely to play again before October because of a cruciate knee operation.
Add Gareth Bale, sidelined with a long-term ankle problem, and Toshack is sweating on the long-term fitness of four of Wales’ best players and would like answers before he names his squad for two friendlies against Iceland and Holland in May.
Toshack said: "We are very concerned about the Collins-Gabbidon injury situation in central defence. While our top striker Bellamy has also been out for a very long time.
"We have spent three years working on a defensive plan and it is worrying and disappointing that we are without them and they have the problems they have.
"There seems no real sign of Gabbidon coming back at all, Collins we know will be out until at least September with his cruciate knee injury.
"The centre-back situation has become an area where we need to be concerned. We have thrown in Craig Morgan, but it is a big step up from where he is playing [at Peterborough] to face the likes of Russia and Germany in the qualifiers next season.
"We also have Gareth Bale out long term, it's five months since he last played for us.
"Any international team would miss four players of that quality, but for us it really is a major blow."
"With those four and the likes of Simon Davies, Jason Koumas and Carl Fletcher, plus the young players we have got coming through now from the Under-21s, we feel we are a lot stronger.
"But the clock is ticking now. We start our World Cup qualifiers in September, and with us at full strength I do feel we are much better and have a chance.
"The Under-21s are the best squad this country has ever had, in my view, but we must have the experienced lads around them.
"But without the four injured players we have a genuine concern now. I need to know as soon as possible when these players are going to be ready.
"Within reason I would like to know as soon as possible whether we are going to have these players available or not.
"I don't want to plan for them being available and then find they won't make it.
"I'd rather think, okay, they are out. If they do make it, that's a bonus, but we have to start looking for alternatives.
"But there are key areas of the team that concern me. Three big Premier League players at West Ham, and Bale at Spurs. They will be huge misses for us if they don't make it.
"Between now and the games in May I intend to see the people concerned. I am to go up to West Ham to see the three lads there, maybe have a talk with their manager.
"I need to know how long I will be without them, and the vibes from West Ham are not good."
Meanwhile, Simon Davies, who will earn his 50th cap for his country on Wednesday, has revealed he will consider his international future at the end of his team’s next qualifying campaign.
He said: "I will play this next qualifying campaign, and then think about my future.
"After this next World Cup campaign I will be pushing 30, then I will look at the situation again."