John Toshack is already contemplating how to fit Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison into his Wales squad.
Ramsey and Collison set to make breakthrough
John Toshack is already contemplating how to fit Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison into his Wales squad.
Veteran midfielders Carl Fletcher and Carl Robinson have been loyal servants to the national team.
But Fletcher is not a guaranteed starter at Crystal Palace while Robinson is now playing for Toronto FC in MLS.
Toshack has therefore begun to look to the future and sees Arsenal starlet Ramsey and West Ham youngster Collison as potential long-term replacements.
The pair will appear for the Under-21s against England on Tuesday as Brian Flynn's youngsters aim to book their place in next summer's European Championship.
Toshack resisted the temptation to call them up for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Germany but they are set to be welcomed into the senior fold for next month's friendly in Denmark.
"We still have Ramsey and Collison in the Under-21s, and we always decided that we would wait until after the UEFA play-offs before moving them up to the seniors," said Toshack.
Re-building
"That won't change now. We have friendlies in November and February, and those two will be the next to step up. Brian Flynn will then start again building his next under-21 squad.
"We know all about Aaron. We are working on where we fit him in and how we compliment his talent. Arsene Wenger said something very similar a few weeks ago.
"Fletcher and Robinson have been great for me, on the pitch and within the squad. But there are plenty of times when Fletcher is not playing for his club, while Robinson has to travel from Canada.
"Fletcher is a super professional, he is disciplined and does that holding job really well. The same with Robbo, he is excellent helping the young lads when he is with us, and also a very good professional to have around.
"But he is playing in an area of the pitch where it can become very tough against people playing all the time.
"Now we have Collison and Ramsey who can play in that area. Collison needs more games at West Ham and may benefit if he goes out somewhere (on loan).
"They have both been in the squad, Jack had a couple of games as substitute. They both know they will be the next two youngsters to make the step up.
"In midfield we only have Simon Davies who is playing every week," added the Wales boss. "The rest - David Edwards, Jason Koumas and Carl Fletcher - are not.
"I felt that we had problems in this area on Saturday against Liechtenstein. We would not be able to get away with such things against Germany and Russia."
Changes
Defender Lewin Nyatanga has been recalled from the U21s, although striker Sam Vokes and defender Steve Evans have been released from the seniors to join up with Flynn's squad for the play-off second leg at Villa Park.
Germany coach Joachim Low is expecting a rearguard action from Wales on Wednesday with Toshack under no illusion as to how important the next three qualifiers are to his side's World Cup hopes.
"If we get a result in Germany it will be a massive boost for us," he said. "Our next two matches are in March, at home to Finland and Germany in five days.
"That will be key to everything. I just hope that the people we have now will keep fit and stay fit and be able to play in those games. We may have Danny Gabbidon back by then too."
