I can do an Owen, says miracle man Bellamy

Bellamy gave manager John Toshack a massive boost yesterday by joining the squad before their departure for Cyprus and declaring himself fit to train.

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The Wales captain had a single hernia operation at the same clinic as Owen in Germany a week ago and was inspired by the Newcastle striker's subsequent scoring return against Everton eight days after his double hernia surgery.

Toshack paid tribute to Bellamy's determination to shrug off injury — in marked contrast to Jason Koumas who, once again, withdrew with a complaint, this time about his hip.

"To have our captain back with us, particularly after his performance in the last game, gives us all a lift," said Toshack, referring to Bellamy's masterful display in last month's 5-1 win in Slovakia. "He looked his usual bubbly self this morning and we hope there is no reaction and that he can train with the team tomorrow and Friday and we will take it from there."

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne tried to urge troubled team-mate Stephen Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland squad this week for the games against Germany and Cyprus.

But the young midfielder, who pulled out of Ireland squad last month after falsely claiming his two grandmothers had died, rejected the advice.

Dunne said: "It's disappointing for us. He has been scoring goals lately and is a very important and very good player. If he had come in this time, faced everything, talked to people so everything was out in the open, he could just carry on. My advice to him would be to get back as quickly as possible.

"Hopefully, he will get himself sorted out. If and when he comes back he would be welcomed. I would not think the players would make him uncomfortable. If his girlfriend had a miscarriage, nobody is going to take the mickey out of something that serious."

Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller earns a recall in Ireland's place, while there are still concerns over Andy Reid, who has an ankle problem.

Feuding Northern Ireland team-mates Keith Gillespie and George McCartney earned a reprieve from manager Nigel Worthington yesterday by being named in a 19-man squad for next Wednesday's qualifier in Sweden.

Sheffield United winger Gillespie and West Ham defender McCartney were fined by the IFA after exchanging blows in a row over a misplaced passport as they boarded the plane for the flight home from Iceland last month.

There is a recall for Luton midfielder Stephen Robinson, who won the last of his six caps against Azerbaijan in September, 2005.

SQUAD — Taylor (Birmingham), Mannus (Linfield), McGovern (Celtic), Craigan (Motherwell), Capaldi (Cardiff), McCartney (West Ham), Hughes (Fulham), Evans (Man Utd), McAuley (Leicester), Gillespie (Sheff Utd), Davis (Fulham), Clingan (Nottm F), McCann (Barnsley), Brunt (West Brom), Robinson (Luton), Jones (Burnley), Healy (Fulham), Lafferty (Burnley), Sproule (Bristol C).