Speed Gets Dragons Call

Last updated : 03 August 2004 By Mark Heys
Wales boss Mark Hughes has included Bolton Wanderers midfielder Gary Speed in his 26-man squad to take on Latvia in an international friendly later this month.

The game in Riga on the 18th August will put the Welsh captain Speed on 80 caps and will be the first time that the 34-year old has gained international recognition since his recent £750,000 transfer from Newcastle United last month.

Ex-Wanderers striker Nathan Blake also has a chance to stake a claim in the Dragons team following his move to Championship side Leicester City. The forward had contemplated retirement following his release by Wolves but a move to the Foxes will enable him to kick start his one promising career which saw him notch 38 goals in a three year spell with Bolton back in the 1990's.

THE WELSH SQUAD IN FULL IS

Danny Coyne (Burnley)
Mark Crossley (Fulham)
Paul Jones (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Darren Ward (Nottingham Forest)
James Collins (Cardiff City)
Mark Delaney (Aston Villa)
Rob Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Danny Gabbidon (Cardiff City)
Andy Melville (West Ham United)
Robert Page (Cardiff City)
Gareth Roberts (Tranmere Rovers)
Ben Thatcher (Manchester City)
Carl Fletcher (Bournemouth)
Andy Johnson (West Bromwich Albion)
Jason Koumas (West Bromwich Albion)
John Oster (Sunderland)
Paul Parry (Cardiff City)
Mark Pembridge (Fulham)
Carl Robinson (Sunderland)
Robbie Savage (Birmingham City)
Gary Speed (Bolton Wanderers)
Craig Bellamy (Newcastle United)
Nathan Blake (Leicester City)
Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff City)
John Hartson (Celtic)
Gareth Taylor (Nottingham Forest)