Hughes urges on understudies
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Your support makes all the difference.Mark Hughes has called for his makeshift side to prove they are good enough to stay in the Wales squad for the European Championships, and to show they can live without the magic of Ryan Giggs.
The Wales manager has been denied the services of nine top players for today's friendly against Croatia in Varazdin. Giggs, Craig Bellamy, Gary Speed, Robbie Savage, Robert Page, Iwan Roberts, Nathan Blake, Steve Jenkins and Jason Koumas are ruled out, and the first five in that list would be certainties for Hughes' team which steps out in Helsinki on 7 September against Finland for the opening Euro 2004 qualifier.
The understudies will get their chance to stake a claim today, with the likes of 19-year-old David Vaughan, Bradford's new signing, Paul Evans, and the Cardiff trio of Rhys Weston, Danny Gabbidon and Robert Earnshaw all eager to make an impact.
Facing a Croatia side much changed from their World Cup disappointment in the Far East, Hughes insisted: "What Earnshaw did against Germany, when he came in on his debut and scored the winner at the end of last season and really took his chance to impress, is what I want to see from other lads. To take their opportunities when they arrive.
Hughes even suggested that Wales now, with a squad boasting much more strength in depth, are not as reliant on Giggs as they were in the past. "He's a world-class player and any side would miss him," said Hughes. "But in terms of how much percentage-wise, that has decreased over the last few years.
Hughes believes that even this weakened squad can continue the good form of last term which saw excellent results against Germany, Argentina, the Czech Republic and Belarus. Wales are now unbeaten in their last four games.
"It's only because of their willingness to implement what we have said to them, and how I have dealt with the ability they have got, that we are getting the performances and the results," Hughes said.
WALES (probable): Jones (Southampton), Delaney (Aston Villa), Melville (Fulham), Gabbidon (Cardiff), Barnard (Grimsby), Davies (Tottenham), Pembridge (Everton), Johnson (West Brom), Robinson (Portsmouth), Hartson (Celtic), Earnshaw (Cardiff).
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