Pavlyuchenko scored three goals for Russia at Euro 2008

Russia coach Guus Hiddink will ignore Tottenham's pleas not to play their new �14m striker Roman Pavlyuchenko against Wales in Moscow on Wednesday.

Spurs wrote to the Russian FA asking for the former Spartak Moscow striker to be excused duty in the Lokomotiv Stadium because of an ankle injury.

But Hiddink insists that the 26-year-old will play against Wales in Russia's opening group four match.

"He must give everything for the national side," said Hiddink.

"Only after the match will he consider his obligations to Spurs.

"Spurs did send us a letter suggesting that he did not play. But our medical staff, and those from his previous club say he is healthy, and I must take that same view.

606: DEBATE Have your say on Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign

"There is always the fear of injury. People can fall down the steps! But you should not sign big players if you do not want them to play."

Hiddink has largely stuck by the squad that got him to the semi-final of Euro 2008, but has recalled Zenit St Petersburg striker Pavel Pogrebnyak who missed out with a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhykov of Russian Premier League leaders Rubin Kazan is the only newcomer to the 20-man squad.

Russia must prove they can cope with the pressure, we must not be fearful or cautious Guus Hiddink

"I feel this side has improved, now they have got to make things happen as soon as possible," said Hiddink.

"We know this group will be difficult. Wales will be more difficult than some people expect.

"They are a team in transition, and they are energetic with a strong fighting spirit.

"Small teams are always now better organised, they all make it difficult to play against them and we remember that Wales took points from the Czech Republic and Germany in their last qualification group.

"Russia, though, must prove they can cope with the pressure. We must not be fearful or cautious. We must all take this chance to progress from what we achieved in Euro 2008."

Russia squad: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergei Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan); Aleksandr Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich (all CSKA Moscow), Denis Kolodin (Dinamo Moscow), Renat Yanbaev (Lokomotiv Moscow); Diniar Bilyaletdinov, Dmitri Torbinsky (both Lokomotiv Moscow), Vladimir Bystrov, Ivan Saenko (both Spartak Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergei Semak (Rubin Kazan), Igor Semshov (Dinamo Moscow); Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogrebniak (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham).