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Birmingham's Robbie Savage limps off after the match against Fulham, holding an ice pack to his groin strain

Savage limped off after injuring his groin

Wales have flown to Azerbaijan without seven first-choice players after Robbie Savage joined Craig Bellamy in withdrawing from the squad.

But Cardiff City central defender Danny Gabbidon passed a late fitness test to provide manager Mark Hughes with one piece of good news.

Gabbidon boost for Wales

Savage injured his groin playing for Birmingham against Fulham on Sunday and was sent back to his club after reporting for Wales duty.

"He is obviously disappointed but we looked at him last night and he wasn't fit," confirmed Hughes.

Reading centre half Adrian Williams, Wigan striker Neil Roberts and Swansea forward James Thomas were all late call-ups before the squad left on Monday.

Wales withdrawals

Robbie Savage (B'ham)

Mark Pembridge (E'ton)

Andy Johnson (WBA)

Jason Koumas (WBA)

Craig Bellamy (N'castle)

Nathan Blake (Wolves)

Gareth Taylor (Burnley)

Hughes had tried to prevent Savage from playing for Birmingham on Sunday, invoking the Fifa rule that players must be released four days before competitive internationals.

But football's world governing body made an astonishing U-turn to amend those rules in favour of the clubs.

Blues boss Steve Bruce had already stressed on Sunday that Savage was unlikely to make the trip.

"After all the carry-on we have had with this particular issue, I want to stress that the injury is genuine," he said.

West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas withdrew due to "personal reasons", believed to be concerns over his daughter's health.

And Bellamy's unavailability was also confirmed after Newcastle manager Bobby Robson refused to let the player risk aggravating his fragile knee.

Wales and Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy
Wales will miss Bellamy's pace up front

After scoring twice in the Champions League against Feyenoord last Wednesday, Bellamy sat out the Magpies' Premiership win over Southampton on Saturday.

American knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman has advised the 23-year-old only play one match a week until his knee is fully recovered.

Hughes had requested that match be for his country rather than his club this week.

But Robson, who reported Bellamy felt a "slight reaction" to his knee last Friday, wants the player available for Saturday's trip to Manchester United.

"As a former national team manager, I have every sympathy with Mark Hughes," Robson said.

Your say: Can Wales maintain winning ways?

"We both know that without key players, the job of an international manager is a very difficult one, and with Wales doing so well at the moment, it is doubly disappointing.

"We would have loved Craig to have been fully fit, but unfortunately it's just come too soon for him.

Bellamy's Newcastle team-mate Gary Speed is usually employed at left back by Hughes, but the Wales boss may be forced into a reshuffle.

"We have lost a few players but we have others to come in," added Hughes.

"We realise it is a difficult game but we will apply ourselves well."

Revised Wales squad:
Goalkeepers: Paul Jones (Southampton), Mark Crossley (Middlesbrough), Darren Ward (Nottm Forest).
Defenders: Danny Coyne (Grimsby), Andy Melville (Fulham), Robert Page (Sheff Utd), Mark Delaney (Aston Villa), Darren Barnard (Grimsby), Danny Gabbidon, Rhys Weston (both Cardiff), Adrian Williams (Reading).
Midfielders: Gary Speed (Newcastle), Simon Davies (Tottenham), Carl Robinson (Portsmouth), Paul Trollope (Northampton), Paul Evans (Bradford), Ryan Giggs (Man Utd).
Strikers: John Hartson (Celtic), Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff), Neil Roberts (Wigan), James Thomas (Swansea).


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