Bellamy out of Wales game

Bellamy is still recovering from a knee injury

Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of Wales' home international friendly against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, 27 March.

A knee injury has kept the Newcastle striker on the sidelines since his side's 1-0 victory over Sunderland on 24 February.

And despite admitting he was itching to play against one of Europe's strongest side, Bellamy realises he cannot take the risk.

"Missing the game obviously gives someone else a chance in the team," he said.

"And if that person takes that opportunity well, then I'm going to struggle to get back into the team again.

"But this kind of competition for places is really what you want as an international team."

Wales will need Speed's leadership qualities

However, there was better news from Bellamy's team-mate Gary Speed.

The Wales captain has missed Newcastle's last two matches with a hamstring injury.

But after discussing the situation with Magpies manager Bobby Robson and Wales boss Mark Hughes, Speed is confident he will play in Cardiff at the end of the month.

"It looks like I'll probably just play half the game," explained Speed.

"I don't want to jeopardise our position in the league, but at the same time I don't want not to turn out for Wales.

"It's a question of finding the right balance."

Bellmay's goal earned Wales a magnificent 1-1 draw against Argentina in their previous friendly.

Simon Davies is going to have a big impact on Welsh football

Craig Bellamy

The 22-year-old and Spurs midfielder Simon Davies again stood out as Wales' best attacking players.

"I think Simon is going to have a big impact on Welsh football," said Bellamy.

"Hopefully there are going to be a couple more players coming through as well.

"But one thing is showing promise - you have to be able to fulfil that promise at the highest level.

"I think Simon and I have fulfilled quite a lot this year.

"If you're going to have a good international team you need to be playing in the Premiership week-in-week-out."

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Wales squad:
Goalkeepers: P Jones (Southampton), Crossley (Middlesbrough), Ward (Nottm For), Coyne (Grimsby). Defenders: Delaney (Villa), Jenkins (Huddersfield), Melville (Fulham), Symons (Palace), Page (Sheff Utd), Gabbidon (Cardiff). Midfielders: Barnard (Barnsley), J Robinson (Charlton), Koumas (Tranmere), Johnson (WBA), Pembridge (Everton), Davies (Spurs), C Robinson (Wolves), Savage (Leicester), Speed (Newcastle), Giggs (Man Utd). Strikers: Blake (Wolves), Taylor (Burnley), Earnshaw (Cardiff), I Roberts (Norwich), Hartson (Celtic).
Stand-by: Price (Tranmere), G Roberts (Tranmere), Fowler (Coventry), Trollope (Fulham), Haworth (Tranmere), Edwards (Nottm For), Vaughan (Crewe).

Czech Republic squad:
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Sparta Prague), Martin Vaniak (Sigma Olomouc). Defenders: Milan Fukal (Hamburg/Ger), Tomas Huebschman (Sparta Prague), Miroslav Holenak (Slovan Liberec), Marek Jankulowski (Naples/Ita), Petr Johana (Slovan Liberec), Jiri Novotny (Sparta Prague), Tomas Ujfalusi (Hamburg/Ger). Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam/Ned), Vaclav Kolousek (Slovan Liberec), Pavel Nedved (Juventus Turin/Ita), Karel Poborsky (Lazio Rome/Ita), Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund/Ger), Libor Sionko (Sparta Prague). Strikers: Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund/Ger), Vratislav Lokvenc (Kaiserslautern/Ger), Vladimir Smicer (Liverpool/Eng), Jiri Stajner (Slovan Liberec).