BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Wales

Wales manager Mark Hughes will insist that five of his squad are freed from club duty the Sunday before Wales' Euro 2004 game in Azerbaijan.

Under Fifa rules players must be released four days before an international and Wales face a demanding trip ahead of their game on 20 November.

The rule is in place to allow international managers to prepare their team

Mark Hughes

There are three Premiership matches and one Scottish Premiership game involving Welsh squad members scheduled for Sunday, 17 November.

The problem matches are: Birmingham v Fulham (Robbie Savage and Andy Melville); Blackburn v Everton (Mark Pembridge); West Ham v Man Utd (Ryan Giggs); Celtic v Partick Thistle (John Hartson).

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All five players in question started against Italy and are key elements in Mark Hughes' plans.

Hughes told BBC Wales Sport: "The rule is in place to allow international managers to prepare their team.

"It used to be five days, now it's four. If they played Sunday there'd be no training Monday, so they'd only get one session before the game.

John Hartson was due to play in the Scottish Premiership
"It's a problem that there's a full league programme on the weekend and if I lose players I won't have much time to draft others in.

"It's not a decision I've taken lightly, I've given it a lot of thought."

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Wales have had particular problems in the past with trying to get Giggs released to play in friendly matches.

On this occasion, though, it seems that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will have no choice but to put Wales' needs before his club's league programme.

FAW secretary David Collins said: "Having spoken to Fifa with regard to this situation, they have assured us that under their regulations the four-day rule means that Sunday is inclusive.

"Players have to report by the Saturday evening. We've written to the clubs to inform them of that."

Wales will face an Azerbaijan team under new management when the sides meet in Baku.

Asker Abdull-ayeff, who was dismissed after six months the last time he held the post and the current under 21s manager, has been named as the new coach.

Team captain Tarlan Ahk-medov has been named as Abdull-ayeff's number two.

Vagif Sadygov resigned as coach last month after two opening Group Nine defeats to Italy and Finland.

He had only been in charge since late August, but he claimed his job was impossible.


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