Wales manager John Toshack has stunned the Welsh public by leaving mid-fielder Robbie Savage out of the squad to face Austria in a double header at the end of the month. Toshack spoke to Savage this morning to inform him of his decision and the mid-field man then retired from international football.

Gwent mid-fielder Carl Fletcher is now set to start his first competitive games.

Newport-born Cardiff City defender James Collins, who has been the subject of frenzied transfer speculation in the past fortnight, is recalled to the senior squad after missing the Hungary friendly.

Squad: Danny Coyne (Burnley), Paul Jones (Wolves), Lewis Price (Ipswich), Danny Collins (Sunderland), James Collins (Cardiff City), Mark Delaney (Aston Villa), Rob Edwards (Wolves), Danny Gabbidon (Cardiff City), Robert Page (Coventry), Sam Ricketts (Swansea), Gareth Roberts (Tranmere), Simon Davies (Tottenham), Carl Fletcher (West Ham), Ryan Giggs (Man United), Jason Koumas (West Brom), Carl Robinson (Sunderland), Gavin Williams (West Ham), Craig Bellamy (Celtic), Rob Earnshaw (West Brom) and John Hartson (Celtic). Newport born defender Byron Anthony has been recalled to the under-21 squad.

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WALES' midfield dynamo Robbie Savage today quit international football after national coach John Toshack told him he would not be in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria.

Toshack said today: "I spoke to Robbie this morning and explained he would not be in the squad for the Austria games and he then told me of his intention to retire from international football. I explained to him that I wanted to have a look at other players and that was all that was said."

Wales clash in a vital double-header against Austria later this month (at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday March 26 and in Vienna on March 30) but will now do it without Savage, the talismatic midfield man who earned 39 caps.

Savage is the fourth midfielder to retire from the Welsh ranks in the last six months, following on from former skipper Gary Speed, West Brom man Andy Johnson and Fulham veteran Mark Pembridge.

Savage will now concentrate on his domestic career, having teamed up at Blackburn Rovers with former Wales boss Mark Hughes after an acrimonious January transfer window move from Birmingham City.

Savage's international career was blighted with controversy and he proclaimed that many players would consider their international futures if Tosh-ack became Wales boss.

Savage retracted his remarks and it initially seemed that he was committed to playing on for his country after Toshack did get the job, however he pulled out of last month's friendly with Hungary.

For more Wales news and Savage reaction, see tomorrow's Argus Sport