Koumas Out as Parry and Margetson Set for Wales

Added to Squad
By Chris O'Brien
August 14 2005

Jason Koumas has pulled out of the Wales squad due to fitness troubles, as John Toshack adds Bluebirds duo Martyn Margetson and Paul Parry to his list for the upcoming friendly against Slovenia. The Welsh international side are heading to the land of pegs.

Surprise changes to John Toshack's Wales squad has seen on-loan Jason Koumas removed from the squad whilst Paul Parry and Martyn Margetson join the party for the friendly against Slovenia.

Koumas is desperate to retain full-fitness and make his temporary transfer to Ninian Park a successful one. However, despite a stunning debut against Leeds United, the attacking midfielder is not yet fit enough for a run in the first-team and has been removed from the international squad.

Ipswich Town goalkeeper Lewis Price and former Bluebirds Mark Delaney and James Collins all joined Koumas on the withdrawn list. These absentees have resulted in Margetson, back in contention for a CCFC place, and Parry being added to the squad, with big-guns Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy also doubts for the warm-up match in Jack land.

Meanwhile, a number of players have pulled-out of the under-21 squad for the friendly against Malta, including Joe Ledley. Therefore Bluebirds Joe Jacobson, Curtis McDonald and Jamal Easter will all be involved in the game at Llanelli's Stebonheath Park.

Congratulations to all involved and good luck to both Welsh teams.

The new squads are as follows:

Wales squad to play Slovenia in Swansea on 17 August:
Coyne (Burnley), Jones (Wolves), Margetson (Cardiff), Duffy (Coventry), Edwards (Wolves), Gabbidon (West Ham), Page (Coventry), Partridge (Bristol City), Ricketts (Swansea), Jones (Wrexham), Parry (Cardiff), Roberts (Tranmere), Thatcher (Man City), Davies (Everton), Fletcher (West Ham), Robinson (Sunderland), Vaughan (Crewe), Williams (West Ham), Bellamy (Blackburn), Earnshaw (West Brom), Giggs (Man Utd), Hartson (Celtic).

Wales Under-21 squad to face Malta in Llanelli on 16 August:
Hennessey (Wolves), Worgan (unattached), Anthony (Cardiff), Beevers (Lincoln), Adam Davies (Cambridge), Gilbert (Leicester), Martin (Notts County), Nyatanga (Derby), Crofts (Gillingham), Arron Davies (Yeovil), Pulis (Torquay), Birchall (Mansfield), Fleetwood (Cardiff), Cotterill (Bristol City), C Davies (Oxford), Pritchard (Swansea), Jacobson (Cardiff), McDonald (Cardiff), Tudur-Jones (Swansea), Easter (Cardiff).