Earnshaw gets Wales chance

Toshack backing Forest striker

Last updated: 5th September 2008

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Earnshaw: To start against Azerbaijan

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John Toshack has confirmed that Robert Earnshaw will start for Wales against Azerbaijan on Saturday.

The Nottingham Forest striker was not included in Toshack's initial squad but was then called up after injuries to Craig Bellamy and Freddy Eastwood.

Earnshaw has started the season in excellent form for Forest following a disappointing spell at Derby, and Toshack now expects him to produce another good performance for his country.

The Wales boss said: "Earnie will start. And I am aware of the fact that he has played three games in six days for the first time in two years.

"I have told him he needs to get a run of 10 games, something he has not had for a very long time due to injury and not being in the frame at Derby.

"But he knows he will be starting the match and he knows the onus will be on him to score the goals that give us a good start to the campaign.

"His move to Nottingham Forest has made him a lot happier, and now he is playing regularly. He was out injured for a long time and I do not believe he was ever fully recovered at Derby.

"As a striker he needs to be sharp in the box, and if he is not playing he will not have that."

Davies praise

Earnshaw has not started for Wales since last October but he has also received the backing of skipper Simon Davies.

"I am confident that Robert Earnshaw will rise to the challenge," said the Fulham midfielder.

"I have played alongside him for a while now, and saw him start out for Wales when everything he touched ended up in the back of the net.

"Nobody can doubt his talent or scoring ability, it is up to us to get the ball to him in the right positions now for him to score.

"He is a confidence player, and the fact that he is playing regularly for Nottingham Forest is obvious. You can see the benefits, he is looking really sharp."

Make or break

Davies believes Wales' promising youngsters now have enough experience to mount a strong challenge for World Cup qualification.

He urged: "This is make or break for us now. The manager has stated as whole that this qualifying campaign is the one we will all be judged on.

"We have blooded a lot of young players over four years, but they have all got some experience now and know what international football is all about.

"They know enough about it and there has been a real buzz around the place this week because they are raring to go.

"If we want to have any aspirations of being close to the top two in this group, then we have to get off to a good start and win our home games."