WALES striker Craig Bellamy has set his sights on getting Wales to where they have not been for more than 40 years - the World Cup finals.

The Newcastle forward has enjoyed a fine start to the season with club and country and is determined Wales get off to a flier against Azerbaijan in Baku on Saturday.

He said: "It is a massive game. It is the most important game because we need to get into a position to qualify. We need to get into a major tournament.

"We got very close last time and hopefully we can do it this time.

"The manager has emphasised that we need a good start and then we can go from there.

"There are some very big games in the qualifying group like, of course, England, but we need a good start against Azerbaijan because that will set us up for the Northern Ireland game."

Bellamy is not expecting an easy ride against the eastern European side despite Wales defeating them 2-0 in Baku and 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium in the Euro qualifiers.

He said: "We are aware that Azerbaijan will be a much stronger side than the last time we played them. "They were a bit disorganised then and not even playing domestic league matches but now they have improved."

Bellamy took some stick in some quarters for suggesting Wales would be targeting second place in Group Six, behind favourites England, but the striker stood by his statement.

The 25 year-old said: "I made a comment that England would be favourites and people were saying 'Bellamy slams Wales' but I was just being realistic.

"England have the resources that we would dream about and rightly will be the favourites. But that doesn't mean other things can't happen. If we can get off to a good start, then we have got a chance.

"We have certainly got the players so hopefully we can go on and qualify."

Ryan Giggs, misses the trip due to suspension and Simon Davies will not make it after his shin operation.

Ben Thatcher, Danny Coyne, Rob Edwards and Darren Ward have all been left behind with slight injuries.