MARK Hughes is facing a defensive crisis ahead of Wales' Euro 2004 qualifying double-header with Azerbaijan and then Serbia-Montenegro.

Aston Villa's Mark Delaney and Leicester City's Matthew Jones, who can both play at right-back, have been ruled out with knee and ankle trouble respectively while fellow full-back Rhys Weston is struggling with a back problem.

Cardiff City's Weston, 22, hasn't played for a month and Ninian Park boss Lennie Lawrence insisted that he would not allow the former Arsenal man play if he didn't feature in the Bluebirds' game with Mansfield last Friday.

Also veteran Reading defender Adrian Williams (knee) has also withdrawn from the 27-man Welsh squad so Hughes might call on 30-year-old Cardiff full-back Steve Jenkins who hasn't played for his country since September 2001.

Welsh skipper and Newcastle United ace Gary Speed, who plays at left-back for his country, has met up with the squad but is still struggling with a hernia problem.

Cwmbran-raised central-defender Danny Gabbidon (pictured) is back in full training but the Cardiff star has conceded the games with Azerbaijan at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday and next Wednesday's trip to Serbia are beyond him.

Gabbidon said: "It will be some time before I'm even considered for Wales. I've been out for nearly five months now so it would be silly to throw me straight in."

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion midfielder Andy Johnson was also unfit to report as he has a broken foot.