Bellamy's back but Koumas pulls out

Last updated : 10 October 2007 By Wales Reporter
The West Ham striker and Wales captain had groin surgery less than a week ago but today trained with the squad and has been given the blessing of his club to play against Cyprus on Saturday and San Marino next Wednesday.

It's great news for Wales who thought he may only be able to make the San Marino match.

Football Association of Wales spokesman Ceri Stennett said: "Craig had a groin operation last week and we were aware that he was training with West Ham.

"The intention was to wait to see how he went and then, if he was okay, fly him out to Bologna on Monday to join up with the party heading for San Marino.

"But Craig has always said to us that he wanted to travel for both matches, and now West Ham are happy for him to do so and for him to be available for both matches.

"He has not played for West Ham in five weeks and they clearly are happy for him to have some match practice under his belt.

"Obviously our medical team will keep a very close eye on him, nobody wants him breaking down."

Jason Koumas though has pulled out of the squad through injury.

John Toshack appears to have accepted that Koumas is genuinely injured his words are not convincing. Koumas has not played in a Wales away game since 2005.

"He is a key player for us but has missed our qualifying games in Slovakia, Dublin, the Czech Republic and now this trip," said Toshack

"But I am aware that the injury had become a genuine worry for him, he has been playing and not doing much training.

"I am disappointed with the situation, but now happy in my own mind about his problem.

"I can understand people questioning that he has missed so many away games for us.

"But we have seen the problem now and he will not be right for our next two games.

"Of course I would be happy if he played in Wigan's next match, it would show that he is fit again."

Wales squad to play in Cyprus on October 13 and San Marino on October 17 in Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D:

Goalkeepers: Coyne (Tranmere), Price (Derby)
Defenders: Bale (Tottenham), J. Collins (West Ham), Eardley (Oldham), S. Evans (Wrexham), Gabbidon (West Ham), Morgan (Peterborough), Nyatanga (Barnsley), Ricketts (Hull)
Midfielders: Crofts (Gillingham), S. Davies (Fulham), Ledley (Cardiff), Robinson (Toronto), Vaughan (Real Sociedad)
Forwards: Bellamy (West Ham), Earnshaw (Derby), Easter (Wycombe), Eastwood (Wolves).

Cyprus squad to face Wales:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Georgallides (AC Omonia), Sofronis Avgoustis (AEK Larnaca FC), Michalis Morfis (APOEL FC).
Defenders: Stelios Okkarides (Apollon Limassol FC), Marios Elia (APOEL FC), Georgios Theodotou (AC Omonia), Lambros Lambrou (Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Paraskevas Christou (AEK Larnaca FC), Marios P Nicolaou (Panionios FC), Christis Theofilou (Apollon Limassol FC).
Midfielders: Chrysostomous Michael (APOEL FC), Elias Charalambous (PAOK FC), Efstathios Aloneftis (FC Energie Cottbus), Konstantinos Makridis (APOEL FC), Alexandros Garpozis (Apollon Limassol FC), Marinos Satsias (APOEL FC), Christos Marangos (Apollon Limassol FC), Konstantinos Charalampides (FC Carl Zeiss Jena).
Forwards: Yiannis Okkas (Celta de Vigo), Nektarios Alexandrou (Larissa FC), Yiasoumis Yiasoumi (Aris Limassol FC), Michalis Konstantinou (Olympiacos CFP).

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