EVERTON boss David Moyes is seeking showdown talks with Mark Hughes over a club v country struggle involving Mark Pembridge.

Wales manager Hughes has invoked a FIFA ruling which means he is entitled to have all his players report for international duty four days before the vital Euro 2004 qualifier with Azerbaijan on November 20.

But that would see Pembridge - a crucial member of the Welsh team that beat Italy 2-1 a fortnight ago - miss Everton's Premiership clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Sunday, November 17.

Birmingham City's Robbie Savage, Fulham's Andy Melville, Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and John Hartson, of Celtic, will also all be withdrawn from club matches on the day.

Blues boss Steve Bruce has already called for a 'common-sense approach' to the potential row, even claiming he is prepared to have Savage flown to Cardiff after their match with Fulham at St Andrew's.

Moyes was the latest club manager to make noises, saying: "I need to speak to Mark Hughes about the situation but I haven't managed to do that so far.

"I know other clubs are in similar situations to us, so hopefully we can still sort something out."

And he claimed: "I have spoken to Mark (Pembridge) and he has said that he wants to play for Everton against Blackburn ."

But Hughes and the Football Association of Wales stood firm last night - even insisting that the players report at the Vale of Glamorgan HQ on the Saturday night (November 16) before leaving for Baku on Monday morning.

Hughes said: "The rule is in place to help international managers to prepare their team.

"Instead of having players arriving late on the Sunday and unable to then train on the Monday and then only having one training session prior to the game, the four day rule allows me to have a training session on the Sunday and another on the Monday morning before we fly out.

"We have got four players you would consider first choice all supposedly playing on the Sunday. I know it's difficult.

"I haven't taken this decision lightly, I have given it a lot of thought. In the past for friendly games we have been able to help clubs but this is how it has got to be.

"I understand the difficulties the clubs have but in this situation I feel it is the only option open to me.

"It's never easy but all I'm trying to do is the job to the best of my ability and this is the best way to go."

A FAW spokesman added: "Under the FIFA ruling we can have our players one minute past midnight on the Saturday and why shouldn't we enforce it? Mark Hughes will talk to all the managers individually to explain our situation but there is no room for manoeuvre as far as we're concerned. This game against Azerbaijan is just too important to us."

Hughes will then be left hoping that the club managers, including former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, co-operate with Wales in the future as the likes of Giggs has been withdrawn from various international friendlies over the years.

"All we are doing is trying to give ourselves a fair crack at the whip when it comes to our European qualification campaign," added the spokesman. "We sincerely hope that the clubs will see our point of view."

The barometer of the club managers wrath can be taken when Hughes names his squad for a Spanish training camp next February.

Wales have turned down friendlies at the Millennium Stadium with England's Euro 2004 opponents Turkey and Northern Ireland in favour of a welcome get-together in the sunshine.