WALES manager Mark Hughes will wait on the fitness of defenders Darren Barnard and Mark Pembridge before naming his side for their World Cup qualifier.

Wales face the Ukraine in Kiev's Olympic Stadium, tomorrow night (5pm, BST) and Hughes is also waiting on news from Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney, who was forced out of Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Poland at the eleventh hour with a hamstring injury, but is expected to be fit to play.

With Welsh hopes of qualifying for the 2002 finals all but over, Barnsley's Barnard and Everton's Pembridge both sat out training in Kiev yesterday, while Delaney was put through a fitness session to test the strength of his suspect hamstring.

When naming his side tomorrow, Hughes is expected to give a debut to Tranmere Rovers' Jason Koumas as well as further caps to youngsters Simon Davies, Carl Robinson and Matthew Jones, who were amongst the substitutes in Saturday's defeat.

To stand even a mathematical chance of qualifying for the Japan and Korea World Cup finals, Wales must win all of their remaining group fixtures against Armenia and Belarus at home, as well as Norway away, with future stars expected to feature.

And while Wales captain Gary Speed may have now missed his chance to play in a World Cup finals, the skipper said he is determined to help the next generation continue to improve under Mark Hughes, who was yesterday given the backing of the Welsh FA.

Speed will be 35 for the 2006 World Cup and while he admitted getting a result in Kiev will be tough, Wales have improved under Hughes and there was still very much pride to play for.

He said: "There will be no problem in lifting ourselves for the Ukraine match, we are playing for Wales and there will be no lack of effort, what so ever.

"We are fortunate in that we have a great spirit within the team, but we are desperately disappointed after Saturday's result.

"I think realistically our chances of qualifying are over, but in the same respect we are improving as a squad, we are going in the right direction and it would be silly to throw it all away now.

"We have got a chance of stability and although it might be too late for me as a player, but if I can help Wales players of the future get there, then great."