Toshack expects Bellamy to deliver

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs and Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage have pulled out of Wales' squad for the friendly with Hungary at the Millennium Stadium tonight.

Giggs, who played 82 minutes of United's 2-0 victory over Birmingham on Saturday, has a hamstring injury. Savage is believed to have reported for international duty with a groin strain after playing the whole of Rovers' 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the weekend. Giggs, who yesterday denied he had signed a new two-year extension on his United contract, had been named captain for the match and was due to win his 50th cap.

It leaves John Toshack little option but to plunge Craig Bellamy into action for the first time in almost a month. Toshack gets the chance to put his theories into practice when he begins his second stint as Wales chief. And Bellamy, who was hurried out of Newcastle and loaned to Celtic on transfer deadline day after an all-too-public row with manager Graeme Souness, looks sure to figure tonight.

Toshack infuriated former boss Mark Hughes with his criticism of the previous management from the haven of the commentary box. But it is his own neck which is now on the line, and Toshack insists that there should be no doubts about thrusting Bellamy into action for his 31st cap, even though he has yet to play for Celtic.

The striker's last appearance was for Newcastle against Southampton on January 15th, a week before falling out with Souness, who claimed Bellamy feigned injury in an effort to avoid playing in midfield at Arsenal.

Toshack said: "Bellamy is fit and wants to play. He looked sharp enough in training and I don't think what has happened over the last few weeks will affect our situation. Very often players with a problem at club level take advantage of the international situation for their personal good."

WALES (possible, 4-4-2): Coyne; Weston, Page, Collins, Ricketts; Davies, Robinson, Fletcher, Koumas; Earnshaw, Bellamy.