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| Davies has faith in young Wales | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Simon Davies says Wales must keep faith with the emerging talent and resist the temptation to recall veteran players. | |
| Two defeats in their opening Euro 2008 qualifiers, including the 5-1 home loss to Slovakia on Saturday, have seen calls for retired players to return. | |
| Everton midfielder Davies, at 26, is a senior player in the Wales squad for Wednesday's home match with Cyprus. | |
| "It's not a quick-fix we're looking for, we're looking for a long-term thing and ahead," Davies said. | |
| News conference: Wales captain Craig Bellamy | News conference: Wales captain Craig Bellamy |
| The defeats have seen calls for the likes of former skipper Gary Speed, 37, and Robbie Savage, who turns 32 next week, to be brought back. | |
| "We're looking for the next five or 10 years and those players aren't going to be here," Davies added. | |
| "If you think like that then the last two years have been for nothing because we're looking to the future. | |
| "Tournaments like the 2008 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup are the ones we're looking at. | |
| "We've got to build for that; the young players need experience and this is the only way you're going to give them that." | |
| Skipper Craig Bellamy says it is crucial how the young Wales squad responds after Saturday's Slovakia loss. | |
| Cyprus have weaknesses like any side that we can get at Wales skipper Craig Bellamy | |
| Bellamy is eager for his team-mates to show their mettle: "You test everyone's character, see how they are as a player and a person with results like that. | |
| "It's how they respond on Wednesday - that's when you can get to see your true players." | |
| Bellamy's preparations were expected to be disrupted by a court case he faced in Cardiff on an assault charge. | Bellamy's preparations were expected to be disrupted by a court case he faced in Cardiff on an assault charge. |
| The trial has been postponed for a future date, freeing Bellamy to take a full part in Wales training. | The trial has been postponed for a future date, freeing Bellamy to take a full part in Wales training. |
| The Liverpool striker, 27, says training has been encouraging, but admits he would rather have got the trial over with. | The Liverpool striker, 27, says training has been encouraging, but admits he would rather have got the trial over with. |
| "I'd like to get it over and done with. I don't want it hanging over me, my conscience is clear so I just have to get on with it really," Bellamy added. | "I'd like to get it over and done with. I don't want it hanging over me, my conscience is clear so I just have to get on with it really," Bellamy added. |
| "But you have to try and be as bright as you can in training and it has been positive. | "But you have to try and be as bright as you can in training and it has been positive. |
| "It's not the first time I've lost 5-1 and it won't be the last time for the youngsters in the squad. | "It's not the first time I've lost 5-1 and it won't be the last time for the youngsters in the squad. |
| "The best thing we could have had is another game straight away, you don't want to go three or four months down the line before meeting up again. | "The best thing we could have had is another game straight away, you don't want to go three or four months down the line before meeting up again. |
| "We've got a good chance of trying to put some of it right, but it won't all be right obviously." | "We've got a good chance of trying to put some of it right, but it won't all be right obviously." |
| Cyprus were viewed as one of the minnows in the group, but stunned the Republic of Ireland on Saturday by beating them 5-2 in Nicosia. | Cyprus were viewed as one of the minnows in the group, but stunned the Republic of Ireland on Saturday by beating them 5-2 in Nicosia. |
| However, Bellamy says he has been aware for some time that Cyprus are a very decent team. | However, Bellamy says he has been aware for some time that Cyprus are a very decent team. |
| "I follow Ireland, I watch them a lot, and I watched Cyprus play them last year (when the Republic won 1-0) and it could have been 5-2 then," Bellamy said. | "I follow Ireland, I watch them a lot, and I watched Cyprus play them last year (when the Republic won 1-0) and it could have been 5-2 then," Bellamy said. |
| "Cyprus were very bright and very sharp, Shay Given saved a penalty and their two forwards were very good, their movement was good and they were strong and quick. | "Cyprus were very bright and very sharp, Shay Given saved a penalty and their two forwards were very good, their movement was good and they were strong and quick. |
| "Ireland were lucky to get a result and we played Cyprus a couple of weeks later, they beat us 1-0 and turned us over - they were by far the better side. | "Ireland were lucky to get a result and we played Cyprus a couple of weeks later, they beat us 1-0 and turned us over - they were by far the better side. |
| "So I knew they were a decent side when they were named in our group. | "So I knew they were a decent side when they were named in our group. |
| "I was surprised when they lost to Slovakia 6-1, but that is more understandable given what happened to us on Saturday. | "I was surprised when they lost to Slovakia 6-1, but that is more understandable given what happened to us on Saturday. |
| "But they responded well from it and are a good side. However, they have weaknesses like any side that we can get at." | "But they responded well from it and are a good side. However, they have weaknesses like any side that we can get at." |