Evans leaves door open for Savage return to international fold

WALES assistant manager Roy Evans has suggested that the door is still open for Robbie Savage to return to the international fold.

The former Liverpool boss, now helping John Toshack run the Wales set-up, has implied that the rift between the Blackburn midfielder and the man who replaced Mark Hughes as manager could be patched up.

Evans said: "I don't think anything is ever over. I am not privy to what is going on with Robbie and John, but if it sorts itself out then that is terrific. There are two or three other players we would like back."

Seven players have quit in the wake of Hughes' departure, with Savage retiring from international football earlier this month after being informed by Toshack that he had not been selected for the squad for the World Cup double-header with Austria.

Savage's response was to launch a blistering attack on Toshack's methods and claimed he would "take Wales back to the dark ages."

This has enraged Toshack, and there seemed to be no way back for the Blackburn man despite speculation he is searching for a way to change his mind about quitting.

Savage is privately being advised to build the bridges now, apologise and hope for a recall. But it is believed Toshack has no intention of making the first move.

Meanwhile Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor described the violent scenes on the terraces during the 2-0 defeat in Italy as the worst he had witnessed in 20 years.

Rival fans from Inter Milan and Verona clashed at the San Siro Stadium in the section directly below the Tartan Army.

Riot police eventually dispersed the supporters, who were armed with sticks and chains.

He said: "Those scenes were incredible. I have not seen scenes like that in football grounds for 20 years. It was one set of Italian fans against another set of Italian fans almost pre-planned we understand. It was fans from Verona against some fans from Inter Milan. The Veronese arrived late and were under attack, with the police responding with riot shields and goodness knows what else."