Hartson finds missing spark

John Hartson is benefiting from a run in the team

Whatever happens in Wales' World Cup qualifying double-header against Armenia on Saturday and Ukraine on Wednesday, one certainty is that John Hartson will run till he drops for the cause.

The Coventry striker will win his 21st cap if selected against Armenia, which he is almost certain to do either as a lone striker with players breaking from midfield, or perhaps alongside club colleague Craig Bellamy.

The management of Mark Hughes is beginning to bring the best out of Hartson and the Swansea-born player is responding to the faith shown in him.

"I played a big part against Norway and Poland - myself, Nathan (Blake) and Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) - and to be honest it's only now that I'm getting a real run in the team.

If the pitch isn't up to standard it isn't worth taking a chance

  John Hartson

"It's my third consecutive game - if I do happen to play at the weekend - and it's only in recent months that I've started to really believe I'm a big player now in the Wales set-up.

"I've been given a lot of confidence and I've been made to feel a part of it, whereas in the past I've been a 'bit' player, when others are injured and filling in for people.

"I was never really given a good run in the side under previous managers, but I think now with Mark in charge he's given me great confidence and he's playing me and that's what I want."

Strain

Hartson was much less complimentary about the state of the training facilities available to the team in Yerevan.

Wales have not been allowed to train in the 69,000 capacity Hrazdan Stadium, despite their assigned training pitch being strewn with debris and described as a "cabbage patch" by Dean Saunders.

"Obviously not being able to train every day is a little bit of a concern but we can only do what we can," Hartson added.

"We'd prefer to train every day and do things right but if the pitch isn't up to standard it isn't worth taking a chance on players turning ankles and getting injuries.

"It is a little bit of a set-back because I'm sure Mark has lots of things he'd like to put into practice before the game."

What training the squad was able to manage on Thursday was without Charlton's John Robinson, who sat out because of a stomach strain.

The Welsh management is hoping that the midfielder can resume training on Friday but Robinson may now be a doubt for the game.

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Wales squad to play Armenia in Yerevan on 24 March and Ukraine in Cardiff on 28 March:

P Jones (Southampton), Freestone (Swansea), Crossley (Nottm Forest), Ward (Notts County), Delaney (Aston Villa), S Jenkins (Huddersfield), Barnard (Barnsley), G Roberts (Tranmere), C Edwards (Nottm Forest), Legg (Cardiff), Melville, Symons (both Fulham), Page (Watford), J Robinson (Charlton), A Johnson (Nottm Forest), M Jones, Savage (both Leicester), Pembridge (Everton), C Robinson (Wolves), Speed (Newcastle), Saunders (Bradford), I Roberts (Norwich), Bellamy, Hartson (both Coventry), Blake (Blackburn), Giggs (Man Utd).