Robert Earnshaw will be given the chance to salvage his international career in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Nottingham Forest striker, who has not even in boss John Toshack's original squad, will lead the attack in the Millennium Stadium against Azerbaijan in Wales' opening World Cup qualifier.
Injuries to Craig Bellamy and Freddy Eastwood meant Earnshaw was called up late, but now he finds himself right back in the front line.
Earnshaw was dropped from four successive Wales squads last season, and when he steps out in the Welsh capital it will be his first start for his country since the draw in Germany last November.
He has started the season with four goals in seven games for Forest, after escaping from his miserable spell at Derby, where injury and inactivity reduced him to an all-time low as far as confidence and form was concerned.
But Toshack has given him the chance to prove he still has a future with Wales against Berti Vogts' side.
Toshack said: "Earnie will start. And I am aware of the fact that he has played three games in six days for the first time in two years.
"I have told him he needs to get a run of 10 games, something he has not had for a very long time due to injury and not being in the frame at Derby.
"But he knows he will be starting the match and he knows the onus will be on him to score the goals that give us a good start to the campaign.
"His move to Nottingham Forest has made him a lot happier, and now he is playing regularly. He was out injured for a long time and I do not believe he was ever fully recovered at Derby.
"As a striker he needs to be sharp in the box, and if he is not playing he will not have that."
Toshack, whose squad has been further boosted by Jason Koumas being declared fit following an ankle injury, added: "Earnie is playing and scoring, he will be a lot better because of that.
"He can play on his own up front, he does that for Forest most of the time and it is a pretty normal system for most clubs these days.
"It is how many attacking midfield players you get in the box when the ball arrives that is the important thing.
"He feels wanted at Forest and he is happy with himself and his game. The move has done him good.
"He was coming to join up with us last season having not played for long spells and it was clear to see he lacked games. Now he is getting that chance and I hope we will benefit.
"He tells me he feels good, and I'm happy about that. He's never said anything to me about whether he agrees or not with me leaving him out, but now he is here and looks a different player.
"Earnie is 27 now and one of the elder statesmen. He's had his troubles at clubs. But this is a good opportunity now for Earnie, and I am pleased he has had a chance to play a few games already this season.
"That is more important than anything else. I would love to see him get 40-50 games for Forest this season.
"He is at an age when his best international football is just ahead of him. I hope that will be the case for Earnie."
The Millennium Stadium will have little more than 15,000 fans inside, and Wales will be playing on a pitch which was only relaid three days ago following a Madonna concert.
Concerns had been expressed over the quality of the surface, but Toshack said: "We are assured that the pitch will be fine by the experts, we'll just have to wait and see.
"I believe the pitch has only been relaid a few days following a concert. Madonna, I believe. Not really my cup of tea, I'm a Perry Como man myself."
PA Sport