Craig Bellamy speaks ahead of the game in Slovakia

Last updated : 12 September 2007 By Wales Reporter

The national team skipper has returned to the squad after missing Saturday's defeat to Germany due to his new-born daughter's illness.

Since then Bellamy's former Wales and Blackburn team-mate Robbie Savage has launched yet another tirade of abuse aimed at Wales manager John Toshack, who dumped him from his squad almost three years ago.

Savage has insisted that this Wales squad, facing imminent elimination from their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, also have no chance of reaching the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010.

Toshack's weary response was predictable.

"More of that from him, isn't that a surprise? It comes with the territory and I am not really interested in that."

Bellamy is acutely aware of the limitations of Toshack's youthful squad, but is far more positive.

Bellamy said: "There is quality in this Wales squad, but nowhere near the experience of playing at the top level, that's a fact.

"That is a problem for us because we have such a young squad. But who knows, in a few years' time, what they will be like.

"If it is not to be this qualifying campaign, maybe it will be the next one coming up. The experience they will gain now might lead into a new generation.

"We have not qualified for a number of years, but with experience and talent, the next campaign could see us benefit."

The West Ham striker added: "The young lads will gain from what is happening now, and that could stand them in good stead to get to the next finals, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"Two or three years down the line I will be around. But everyone, I accept, wants it all now, I want to qualify, you don't want to wait.

"It is up to the people in charge to work out the plan, it is up to me to play as best as I can and help the youngsters along.

"We want to finish as high in the group as we can. Winning is my motivation.

"As for our youngsters, you have to be good enough first of all. I had the chance at Norwich because they had debt and I was pushed in before my time, I learned a lot and it made me a better player now.

"I was not good enough to be playing at that level then, but I learned and if you have young players coming through you want as many into the top level as soon as you can.

"It is harder now, it is a tough game. The Premier League is a hard business, you have to have pace, ability and quality. For kids to make it now at Premier League level you have to be very good.

"But I feel there are a lot of good youngsters here now, and I want to help them. Lads like Gareth Bale, who is a tremendous talent, and maybe a lot too much is being expected from him at the moment.

"But us being Wales we do not have a massive abundance of ability like other nations, other countries have a far bigger pick so I feel the responsibility to be here to help."

Bellamy made a late decision yesterday to join up with the Wales squad in Cardiff, having spent much of the previous three days with his new-born daughter in hospital.

He said: "It has been a difficult week, firstly we were blessed, my wife and me, with a new baby girl and then she developed complications and had to go back into hospital which made it a little difficult for me to play against Germany.

"Thursday, Friday and Saturday I was at hospital, and I made the decision I could not play against Germany.

"I am sure everyone understands that your family comes first. They also know how passionate I am about football and how much it means to me, but my wife and kids mean a lot more."

PA Sport