Toshack says Koumas must prove his fitness before next month

Koumas refused to train with West Brom in pre-season as his proposed move to Cardiff stalled over payment issues.

The midfielder has been training alone but Toshack says Koumas, 26, will not face the Czech Republic on 2 September unless he gets some match-practice.

"It's not good to be without a club at this time of the year," said Toshack.

"I have spoken to Jason, it's not easy, but he tells me he wants to be involved, but there will come a time when that will be difficult.

"Last season he didn't do any pre-season and now none this time for different reasons."

It's not a dress rehearsal for the Czech Republic game. We'll wait and see who's fit and who turns up Toshack on Bulgaria friendly

Toshack added: "We will see how the transfer unfolds and if he can get four or five games in before the Euro 2008 qualifier then okay. If not we have a problem.

"If he does not have a club by the end of August he will be struggling and I don't see how he can be involved.

"But we have been waiting for something to happen and maybe the game between Cardiff and West Brom on Tuesday is having some sort of effect on the situation.

"He should have gone back to West Brom and trained. It was in his own interest, cutting your nose off to spite your face is not always the best solution."

Despite his on-going predicament, Koumas has been named in the Wales squad for the friendly against Bulgaria in Swansea on 15 August.

Toshack said the side he picks for that match will be based mainly on fitness levels rather than on any plans he has for the Czech Republic.

"Bulgaria had some problems with the organisation on their trip to Japan lately and Scotland turned them over quite comfortably (5-1)," said Toshack.

"But as much as we're looking at Bulgaria, the most important thing is ourselves at this particular time.

"It's a game where we've got a chance to get the players together for two or three days.

"It is a friendly, obviously we'd like to win but the result won't determine too many things.

"It's not a dress rehearsal for the Czech Republic game. We'll wait and see who's fit and who turns up (next Saturday).

"We'll pick a team accordingly to play against Bulgaria and once that's finished we've just over two weeks before the Czech Republic game."