FIVE Gwent players are named in Mark Hughes' squad for Wales' World Cup qualifying games with Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland next month.

Bidding to make an impact will be James Collins, Paul Parry, Danny Gabbidon, Carl Fletcher and Nathan Blake.

Hughes has faith that his Football League Championship defenders Collins, Parry and Gabbidon can handle Premiership superstars Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney when he takes his side to Old Trafford to face England in October.

The majority of Hughes' favoured starting XI are with Premiership clubs, except at the back where several play in the lower divisions.

Hughes said: "People will look at where our central defenders play their football and possibly surmise that would make us vulnerable.

"But when you look at our recent record we have only conceded two goals in seven games against top class opposition, so it bucks the trend really.

"We have played against similar quality strikers so have no reason to think they can't (cope with England).

Cardiff City defender Collins earned his third cap in the impressive 2-0 win over Latvia in Riga and despite not playing regularly for the Bluebirds is highly regarded by his national manager and keeps his place for the qualifiers which kick off against Azerbaijan on September 4, followed by Northern Ireland in Cardiff on September 8.

Fellow Bluebird Danny Gabbidon, from Cwmbran, is included and although he withdrew from Wednesday's friendly, Hughes believes he will be fit to take his place in Baku.

Hughes described the Latvia win in their final match before the World Cup qualifiers as pleasing, especially as he felt his side was not firing on all cylinders.

He said: "It was very pleasing. I was delighted with the result, although we have played better. We stuck at it and with the treat we have in attack, we are always likely to get goals. It is often the sign of a good side that play a little bit less than they can but still win.

"We have been very solid at the back and when you look at the defensive record in the last six or seven games that has to be the foundations of any performance and it gives other players the confidence to go and attack teams.

"In days gone by a 2-0 away win would be welcomed, but we're talking about a game where we didn't play particularly well and we are talking about how we can improve on an away win.

"So things have changed, we have moved forward and will continue to look to move forward."