Bellamy could join Wales squad

Wales manager Chris Coleman has left the door open for Craig Bellamy to still be added to his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers after initially omitting the Cardiff striker.

Bellamy was not among the original 21-man group but Coleman has left two places open in his squad for the matches against Scotland and Croatia.

One of those could be taken by Bellamy and Coleman is expecting to hear from the 33-year-old about his availability on Sunday after Cardiff's trip to Ipswich in the npower Championship a day earlier. The Wales boss said: "We need to know from Craig whether he is staying with us or whether he isn't. If he is not, we have to move forward."

Bellamy missed Wales' opening two Group A matches after suffering a calf injury while playing for his club but he has started Cardiff's last three matches and scored the opening goal in their 2-1 victory over Birmingham on Tuesday before being substituted later on.

Without 70-cap striker Bellamy, Wales suffered a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in their opening qualifier last month before being thrashed 6-1 in Serbia in their second outing.

Coleman also confirmed that Ashley Williams had replaced Aaron Ramsey as captain.

"We needed to make some changes," Coleman said. "I spoke to Aaron about it, and he was incredibly mature. I was very impressed with him. It was a very professional reaction.

"Of course he is disappointed, but Aaron was great about it, he really was. Ashley will be the skipper. He is a natural leader. He has experience."

Wales play Scotland in Cardiff next Friday before facing Croatia in Osijek four days later.

Wales squad to face Scotland on October 12 and Croatia on October 16: Brown (Aberdeen), Price (Crystal Palace), O F Williams (Tranmere); Blake (Crystal Palace), Davies (Swansea), Gunter (Reading), Lynch (Huddersfield), Matthews (Celtic), Ricketts (Bolton), A Williams (Swansea); Allen (Liverpool), Edwards (Wolves), King (Leicester), Ledley (Celtic), Ramsey (Arsenal), Vaughan (Sunderland); Bale (Tottenham), Church (Reading), Morison (Norwich), Robson-Kanu (Reading), Vokes (Burnley).