Savage launches Toshack attack Savage retires from Wales

Savage, who plays his club football under Hughes at Blackburn, retired from international football after being left out of the Wales squad to face Austria.

"Wales have not got that many players to choose from and certainly not of the quality of Robbie Savage," Hughes said.

"I think it's just a shame that a player of Robbie's undoubted quality will no longer be available for Wales."

Toshack says he called Savage over the weekend to tell him that Wales would continue with the side that won the 2-0 friendly against Hungary last month - a match Savage missed through injury.

That means Sunderland's Carl Robinson and West Ham's Carl Fletcher are likely to start in central midfield for the World Cup qualifying double header against Austria on 26 and 30 March.

There was also no place on the bench for 39-cap Savage.

That prompted the 30-year-old to announce his retirement from international football on Monday.

For five years Robbie Savage was arguably the best player in the (Wales) team Ex-Wales boss Mark Hughes

Savage said that Toshack's decision to leave him out was made for personal, not footballing, reasons, claiming that "the man obviously doesn't like me".

Hughes, who signed the midfielder from Birmingham in January, responded by naming Savage as one of the most important players during his time in charge of Wales.

"It's disappointing for Welsh football that this episode has come about," Hughes added.

"For the time I was in charge as Welsh manager I was fortunate enough to have Robbie at my disposal - and for five years he was arguably the best player in the team.

"Robbie has made his decision and I think everybody has got to respect not only that decision, but what he has done for Welsh football.

As a manager Toshack should have risen above any personal criticism Ex-Wales captain Gary Speed

"If you look at it from a purely personal point of view, obviously it will focus his mind on the job at Blackburn and we are grateful for that."

Savage's cause was also promoted by his former Wales captain and midfield team-mate Gary Speed, a stalwart of Hughes' international regime who retired after the manager's last game in charge.

"When Toshack was made the new manager Sav and I spoke at length about the whole thing and I told him to just get his head down and play football," said the Bolton player.

"Nobody has won in this, the only loser is Welsh football because whatever your thoughts on Savage's style of play, he is an established Premiership player and he's Welsh.

"We are a small country in football terms and what Toshack has done by not selecting Savage is personal. As a manager he should have risen above any personal criticism."