Hughes says Giggs strikes fear into hearts of Russians

WALES believe Russia will be running scared of Ryan Giggs in their Euro 2004 play-off showdown.

Manager Mark Hughes could not be happier with the Russians' clear fear of the Manchester United ace and he believes they are right to be worried about Giggs who will win his 45th cap in the first leg in Moscow's Lokomotiv Stadium on Saturday.

Russian coach Georgi Yartsev has openly talked of "neutralising Giggs" and Hughes' response is predictable.

"Every game he plays, teams show him the respect he deserves, and his reputation warrants and demands. For a decade, he has performed at the top level against the top teams and players in the world," Hughes said.

"He seems a lot more confident, though, this season. He feels physically a lot stronger. When he is flying there is no finer sight than seeing him take people on. We have seen that on many occasions this season."

Giggs has been in outstanding form for United this season and grabbed two goals on Sunday to clinch victory at Liverpool. "Ryan, John Hartson and Robert Earnshaw all scored twice for their clubs at the weekend and I must say I am delighted with the form my players are in."

Hughes has every confidence Giggs will rise above any intimidation he may encounter in the bitter cold of Moscow. "Ryan does get attention because his reputation goes go before him.

"Certainly in Russian eyes he is the most recognisable player in our squad, so they would obviously see him as the main threat.

"They will pay special attention to him. But you have to he is a world-class player. Any international manager will try to stop him.

"But we are more than just Ryan Giggs. Possibly in the past a lot of our play has been geared to him, and a lot of the onus of the attacking play has been left to him to create.

"But that is not the case any more. We have threats in other areas, and I am quite happy if they think they have to pay special attention to Ryan because that will open up other avenues in other parts of the field.

"We have other secret weapons, but let's not mention them. Let us hope they think we have a slow right-winger.!

"We have got a lot of players who can come in and have an impact and we hope that can happen."

Giggs seems to have emerged from the shadows of David Beckham this season.

Hughes added: "He has a history of niggles in his hamstrings, but they seem to have settled down. He does a lot of work with training as well as maintenance work on his physical shape. He seems to be reaping the benefits now."

If Hughes believes Russia are making an error in concentrating on Giggs he is also just as amused by another apparently tactless blunder from Moscow.

- encountered When the Wales boss was in Frankfurt for the play-off draw and found himself sitting beside a member of the Russian delegation.

The behaviour of that un-named Russian has done much to inspire Wales to prove a point after his implied insult.

Hughes explained: "I was sitting next to the Russian delegate, and when Russia came out of the hat I heard him whisper under his breath 'Wales, Wales, Wales.' He obviously wanted us and he got us.

"He will have done his homework by now, so he will have a different opinion of us. Wales would have been viewed as one of the weaker nations left, and I could understand their reaction.

"But now having looked at us and the threats we have I doubt they are quite so keen on playing us. The guy did not know who I was. He will soon."