TOSHACK PLEASED BY BELLAMY RETURN

Bellamy - returned for Wales on Wednesday.

Wales boss John Toshack welcomed back captain Craig Bellamy for his first international since October with as much relief as joy in Iceland on Wednesday night.

The injury-jinxed West Ham striker appeared for the final 28 minutes of the impressive 1-0 friendly win in Reykjavik, earning his 50th cap.

Bellamy now seems certain to be back leading his country in a much more difficult game in Rotterdam against Euro 2008-bound Holland on Sunday.

Bellamy last played senior football for a mere 20 minutes as a substitute for the Hammers at Wigan in February.

But he had been troubled with groin problems since Wales' win in San Marino last October.

A stomach operation followed and Bellamy's season was all but ended, until last night's run-out in Iceland.

With stand-in skipper Carl Fletcher on his way home after suffering ankle ligament damage against Iceland - and with Simon Davies out of the trip with ankle problems - Bellamy's final game of the season will be leading his country against the Dutch.

Teenager Ched Evans bagged the winner just five minutes after coming on as substitute for Fletcher for his debut.

But it was Bellamy's appearance that delighted Toshack just as much as Evans' scoring debut.

Toshack said: "That's six games unbeaten and we have used another batch of youngsters. Ched did very well but I was so pleased to see Craig back on the pitch.

"He has been a very unlucky boy with injuries and we have certainly missed his Premier League quality.

"I just hope he now has one more game in him and then goes away for a nice summer break, hopefully to return to pre-season training at West Ham raring to go. We need him as much as they do."

Toshack gave Bellamy's club-mate Jack Collison his first cap, along with Wolves' new striker Sam Vokes.

But it was Rhyl-born Evans who stole the headlines.

Toshack said: "He has a natural scoring talent and he took his chance really well. He can be very pleased with himself.

"But he is just one of several youngsters who produced good performances here.

"Collison and Vokes also made their debuts, and we had several of the Under-21 side out on the pitch in the end.

"But Ched stole the show. He has just signed a new contract at Manchester City and it is pleasing that they are showing confidence in him.

"He has plenty to learn yet, but I am just happy that he is being given his chance at City. Maybe he will go out on loan again next season - he did very well at Norwich last term - but City are clearly going to give him his chance to prove what he can do."

The one low point for Wales was the injury that forced skipper Fletcher off in the first half.

Toshack added: "He was very unfortunate. We will have to fly him home and he will obviously miss the game on Sunday.

"He will be out of action for maybe two months, which is very unlucky for him because he deserved his chance as captain."