GWENT’S Jack Collison will make his return to the Wales squad today after more than a year out with a serious knee injury.

National manager Gary Speed is set to hand the midfielder a recall for the Carling Nations Cup matches against Scotland and Northern Ireland in Dublin later this month.

The 22-year-old Watford-born star, who qualifies for Wales through his Bedwellty grandfather, has not played for his adopted nation since March 2010 and only returned for West Ham on Saturday.

His availability is a big boost for Speed, who will be deprived of up to 13 players for the matches on May 25 and May 27 when he names his squad this afternoon.

Gareth Bale (ankle), Joe Ledley (hamstring) and Sam Ricketts (ruptured Achilles) are all ruled out and many of the ten Welshmen involved in the Championship play-offs could miss out with the final at Wembley on Monday, May 30.

That list includes Cardiff City’s Craig Bellamy, Swansea City’s Ashley Williams, Nottingham Forest’s Chris Gunter and Robert Earnshaw and Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu of Reading.

“We will lose at least four or five players whoever is in the final but it’s great for Wales that our players are involved in such a big game,” said Speed.

“Hopefully both Cardiff and Swansea will be in the final and we’ll be guaranteed one team in the Premier League, which would be massive for Welsh football. I spoke to Jack last week,” he added. “He played a few reserve games and he came on at the weekend. He’s really coming on well, which is great.

“We will speak to West Ham and manage his situation because he’s been out for such a long time and we’ll make sure we do what’s best for him, but he will be delighted to be back in the squad.”

Collison’s Hammers teammate Danny Gabbidon, who is expected to be named in Speed’s squad today, has been fined £6,000 and warned about his future conduct following comments posted on his Twitter account.

The 31-year-old Cwmbran-born defender was handed an 'improper conduct' charge in April by the Football Association.

Gabbidon, who has since closed down his account, wrote a four-letter swearword before adding that fans, “will never get another tweet from me again, you just don’t get it do you. Bye bye.”

* Speed was speaking at the launch of the FAW National Futsal Cup.

Futsal is the official version of five-a-side indoor football supported by FIFA and UEFA and specially designed to improve the technical ability of players.

Caldicot-based East Gwent Exiles will take part in the 28-team tournament with preliminary games on May 22 and the final on June 5. The winners will claim the £1,500 top prize and the chance to represent Wales in the UEFA Futsal Cup.