MARK Hughes has hinted Ryan Giggs (pictured) may try too hard for Wales as the Manchester United star and his international colleagues bid to rescue some pride in Oslo tomorrow night.

Hughes takes his men on a desperate search for the first morale-boosting victory in the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign against a Norway side which sunk to the bottom of Group Five by crashing 3-0 in Poland on Saturday.

Wales' own hopes of a sneaking the second qualifying spot from the Ukraine or Belarus were dashed as Armenia held them to a goalless draw at the Millennium Stadium.

It was the sixth of the campaign and Wales fans could only watch and weep as star turn and captain-for-the-day Giggs missed a glorious chance to keep the qualification coffin-door ajar.

But Hughes, desperate to keep the national side evolving, insisted: He created the chance himself and not many players could have done that.

'It went just past the post and on another day it would have gone in.'

With Giggs pushing 33 by the time the 2006 World Cup comes around, he now looks likely to join legends like Ian Rush who never graced the ultimate footballing stage.

But Hughes insists it's not through the want of trying. 'Ryan desperately wants to do well for Wales. Not many players in world football - never mind Welsh football - can make people get out of their seats when they get the ball.

'So Ryan certainly tries hard for Wales, but people will have to make their own opinions, if they think he tries too hard for his country or not.

Hughes stood defiant as Wales bowed out of the campaign for another four years - and will now turn his attentions to the 2004 European Championships.

Giggs himself remains upbeat, saying: 'I'm not dispirited. This side is very young and has potential. We are hard to beat, we've only lost twice in eight games in this group and that is a start.

'I do not believe we are far away. I just hope the fans keep faith in us because we will turn the corner.' He added: 'We must start learning how to win, to take the chances when they come.

'What we must do now is go into our last two group matches against Norway and Belarus (October 6) and give everything.