Wales Turn The Page

By Paul Holland
September 30 2002

Sheffield United defender Robert Page has been recalled to the Wales squad for next month's Euro 2004 qualifier at home to Italy.

Page missed the impressive 2-0 victory in Finland three weeks ago because of an ankle injury, which has kept him out of both domestic and international games since the opening day of the season.

However, he returned as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Watford and is now in line to earn his 26th cap when the Azzurri travel to Cardiff on Wednesday 16 October.

The 28-year-old played in the draw with Argentina and the 1-0 win over Germany towards the end of last season, but Mark Hughes' men face a difficult task to reach the European Championships in Portugal with Yugoslavia also barring their way in Group Nine.

Goalkeepers: P Jones (Southampton), M Crossley (Middlesbrough), D Ward (Nottingham Forest), D Coyne (Grimsby).

Defenders: D Barnard (Grimsby), M Delaney (Aston Villa), R Weston (Cardiff), D Gabbidon (Cardiff), R Page (Sheffield United), A Melville (Fulham).

Midfielders: P Trollope (Northampton), A Johnson (West Brom), G Speed (Newcastle), C Robinson (Portsmouth), M Pembridge (Everton), S Davies (Tottenham), R Savage (Birmingham), J Koumas (West Brom), P Evans (Bradford).

Forwards: J Hartson (Celtic), R Earnshaw (Cardiff), G Taylor (Burnley), C Bellamy (Newcastle), N Blake (Wolves), R Giggs (Manchester United).