Savage sure of Wales comeback

Wales midfielder Robbie Savage holds his head after being sent off against Northern Ireland in September 2004. Savage believes John Toshack's days are numbered as Wales manager and his departure will allow the Blackburn midfielder return to international duty.

Robbie Savage believes John Toshack's days are numbered as Wales manager and his departure will allow the Blackburn midfielder return to international duty.

The 31-year-old Savage retired from international football last year, claiming Toshack "obviously doesn't like me" after being left out of the Welsh squad for two World Cup qualifying games against Austria.

But speaking during a phone-in on Real Radio Wales, in which Savage sparred with Welsh legend Leighton James, the 31-year-old said he was "prepared to do anything I can" to win back his place in the national team.

And he believes that Toshack is incapable of leading Wales to the Euro 2008 finals but remains confident any successor would select him for future squads.

"While he is manager of the Wales team, I will never play for Wales again. I know that," said Savage.

"When Wales do not qualify (for Euro 2008) and John Toshack is not manager, the next manager will pick me if I'm still playing at the highest level. Fact."

Savage claims that Toshack's assistant, the former Liverpool boss Roy Evans, would be in favour of his recall.

Savage accused James of having pursued "a hidden agenda" to have Toshack installed for a second spell as coach of the Wales team.

Following a one-game spell in charge in 1994, Toshack returned in 2004 after Mark Hughes quit to take charge of Blackburn.

Savage told James: "We're fifth in the league, playing for a manager who took that Welsh team from nowhere to one game away from a European Championship tournament, and all John Toshack and yourself could do was criticise because you had a hidden agenda to get John Toshack the job.

"How can a man walk away from the Wales job, years ago, then get the job? It amazes me."