John Toshack sticks with youth

WALES boss John Toshack will take one last opportunity to give teenage stars Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison the chance to cement their roles in his World Cup plans.

Toshack named a 27-man squad today for the friendly against Poland on February 11 in Portugal – the match being played on the Algarve in Vila Real St Antonio, where Wales will be aiding the Poles’ warm-weather training ahead of their own World Cup matches next month.

Arsenal starlet Ramsey – on his full international debut – and West Ham youngster Collison played as a central midfield partnership for their country when Wales won in Denmark last November.

Toshack desperately wanted to see the pair have as much Premier League experience as possible since then, and his wish has been granted.

Ramsey has figured in nine Arsenal games since then, while Collison has won a place in Gianfranco Zola’s senior side and has played in the last 10 Hammers games.

For Toshack, this is the final game before the make-or-break home matches in World Cup qualifying group four when Wales play Finland and Germany in Cardiff on March 28 and April 1 respectively.

Those games will virtually decide whether Wales have any chance of qualifying for South Africa 2010.

But it has not all been plain sailing for Toshack as he has monitored the club progress of his youngsters, and in particular Spurs pair Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale.

Both Cardiff-born players have had their problems at White Hart Lane as the north Londoners have battled to get away from the Premier League relegation zone.

New boss Harry Redknapp has suggested Gunter would benefit from a spell on loan, while Bale has been in and out of the Spurs team and was even – it is believed – offered to Liverpool in the initial bid for Robbie Keane.

Manchester City’s young striker Ched Evans has been out of the picture there and the subject of a bid from Celtic, while goalkeeper Boaz Myhill has lost his first-team place at Hull.

But it is the improvement in Ramsey and Collison that will boost Toshack.

The duo have already been hailed as the answer to Wales’ playmaking problems, having struck up a good central midfield understanding as part of Brian Flynn’s successful under-21 side.

And Toshack is keen to give them as much time on the pitch together as possible before deciding whether to risk the young pairing against the Finns and Germans.

Toshack has been boosted for that game by the return to full fitness and the outstanding club form of defender James Collins, who finally returned to the West Ham team in October after a knee injury.

Collins has helped West Ham to an eight-match unbeaten run and won plenty of praise for his partnership with Matthew Upson.

Wales, though, have announced a big squad to cover for the expected withdrawals, and have already lost Peterborough defender Craig Morgan.

A scan today revealed a broken toe that will keep him out for several weeks, while Robert Earnshaw – back in goalscoring form at Nottingham Forest – is certain to withdraw with a hamstring problem.

An Football Association of Wales spokesman said: “John Toshack wants people to know they are involved and on standby.

“This is an important game for us because it is the only run-out the lads will have before the two World Cup games, having last seen each other in November.”

Veteran Carl Robinson, just returned to pre-season training with Toronto, has been left out along with Coventry’s Freddy Eastwood, while young striker Craig Davies – now with Brighton – is back for the first time in more than a year.

Also recalled is midfielder Andrew Crofts now he is back in action after a long spell on the sidelines. He has moved from Gillingham to Peterborough.

Stockport goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams is the only uncapped player named for his first call-up, having been promoted from the under-21s squad who did so well last year in the UEFA championships before losing out against England in a play-off to reach the finals.

The former Crewe keeper, 21, takes the place of Derby’s Lewis Price, who has had little senior activity this season and has been out on loan with MK Dons for a spell.

Flynn has named an 18-man under-21 squad for the friendly against Northern Ireland in Ballymena on February 10, including Llanelli teenage winger Jordan Follows.

The 18-year-old has made a big impact in the Welsh Premier League this season and has had a trial at Blackburn, with several Championship clubs also interested.

It is a new-look under-21 squad, with six uncapped players named in the build-up to their new UEFA championship campaign. The draw will be made in Denmark on Wednesday.

The new faces include Everton’s Nathan Craig and Bournemouth’s Joe Partington.