Birmingham manager Steve Bruce says he received malicious mail and phone calls from Welsh fans after the withdrawal of Blues midfielder Robbie Savage from the Wales squad.

The Wales star missed Wednesday's 2-0 win in Azerbaijan because of a groin injury sustained during Sunday's Premiership game against Fulham.

Bruce told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Robbie wanted to play for Wales and I would never, ever stop people playing for their country.

"People seem to think I've got a vendetta against Mark Hughes and the Football Association of Wales but it simply isn't true."

Bruce's claim follows the news that Newcastle manager Bobby Robson was targeted by Welsh fans after his insistence that Craig Bellamy was unfit to travel to Azerbaijan.

Bellamy was included by his manager in the squad to play at Old Trafford on Saturday.