Craig Bellamy is set to be named in the Wales squad to be released later today, despite the concerns of his Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

Hughes, himself a former Wales chief, is worried that striker Bellamy will not be able to handle three games a week as he continues his recovery from knee problems. But current Wales chief John Toshack will name his skipper today for next Wednesday's friendly international against Montenegro, just four days before the Barclays Premier League season starts.

Toshack, who is also expected to include fit-again West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon for the first time since November 2007, needs a strong squad in his only warm-up match before the FIFA World Cup™ qualifier with Russia in Cardiff on 9 September. Hughes is understandably concerned about Bellamy being over-played so soon after his recovery from injury.

He said: "Craig has had some game time in pre-season and looked really sharp, having come back from an injury that cost him a big part of last season. He has been working really hard physically on his game during the summer and hadn't really had a break, but he is looking strong and fit as well.

"I think that has shown in his performances, but obviously we are looking to protect him. We will have had three games by the end of the week and I would not want that for him too often because of his injury history. (But) selected for the Wales squad? We will see how he goes this weekend, he looks okay now but we will wait and see."

Leadership concerns
Fulham's Simon Davies will not be named by Toshack today, having only just returned to training after a summer foot operation. But the Fulham man has chosen now to express concerns he has had since Toshack slammed senior players after the home defeat by Finland in March.

Toshack claimed at the time that senior players lacked leadership. Davies has now had his say in a BBC interview for their Sport Wales programme to be screened tonight. Davies, who even revealed that he considered retiring from international football, said: "It's hard when the manager criticises you and I haven't agreed with everything he has said about me in the past.

"But you just take it on board. I'm a player, he is the manager and you just tow the line." He added: "Because of the extra responsibility you have as an experienced player, you expect to get the brunt of the criticism. But sometimes it gets into a blame game and that's not the way to go about it. We are a team, including the manager. We are all as one."

He added: "We were accused of not putting in effort. You can accuse us all day about our technical ability and tactical game because that's part and parcel of football. But when you get criticised for not having enough passion when playing for your country, that's just pathetic. It is not down to a lack of effort.

"I did initially think after this campaign I'd have a look and see about retiring from Wales. It gets harder and harder because the Premier League is so demanding. But I still have an appetite to improve."