Freddy ready to resume responsibility for Wales

Freddy Eastwood knows his chances of leading Wales’ attack has been boosted by Craig Bellamy’s injury-enforced absence from the squad.

Bellamy, last night crowned as new Wales footballer of the year in Cardiff, has been ruled out of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday and next week’s daunting trip to face Germany in Frankfurt.