Thatcher claims Toshack accused him of being ‘scared’ to play

BEN THATCHER has launched a fierce attack on John Toshack and claims the Wales manager accused him of being too “scared” to play for his country in the last World Cup qualifier in Poland.

The Manchester City defender has made himself unavailable for the Group Six games with Northern Ireland in Belfast on Saturday and in Cardiff against Azerbaijan next Wednesday.

The 29-year-old has not retired from international football but his future is uncertain, given the treatment of outspoken Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage, who has not played under Toshack since criticising the new regime.

Thatcher claims a “gentleman’s agreement” not to air their differences in public has been broken by Toshack’s decision to explain the problems between them last week when he announced his squad.

The breakdown in the relationship between the pair, claims Thatcher, is a mobile phone row in which Toshack claimed Thatcher was scared to play in Poland because of what had happened when the countries met in Cardiff last year.

Thatcher said: “The manager has questioned my commitment and credibility in public and I feel I have no choice but to defend myself and tell the truth.

“The manager said I was scared of reprisals following the clash in Cardiff last October when I was banned for the incident with Polish midfielder Kamil Kosowski.”

Thatcher was alleged to have stamped on the player, and was then banned for two matches, with the Poland return in Warsaw his first game back.

“I would have absolutely relished a battle in Poland, that’s a major part of my game. Above all, I will not be spoken to by anyone in the manner he spoke to me on the phone, the whole tone was in a taunting fashion accusing me of ducking out of the game. I am not a player who fakes injury.”

Meanwhile, Maik Taylor insists he will be fit for Northern Ireland despite being troubled by back pain. The Birmingham goalkeeper is due to captain the side in both matches in the absence of Aaron Hughes.

Northern Ireland Squad: Taylor (Birmingham), Carroll (West Ham), Ingham (Wrexham); Murdock (Rotherham), Craigan (Motherwell), Capaldi (Plymouth), Duff (Burnley), McAuley (Lincoln); Davis (Aston Villa), Johnson (Birmingham), Brunt (Sheff Wed), Elliott (Hull), Gillespie (Sheff Utd), Robinson (Luton); Healy (Leeds), Quinn (Peterborough), Feeney (Luton), Jones (Crewe), Smith (Preston), Sproule (Hibs).