Wales boss John Toshack announced his surprise decision to appoint the Liverpool striker as a temporary replacement for the injured Ryan Giggs on Tuesday, even though he has admitted Bellamy could have difficulty concentrating on football.

Wales play Slovakia on Saturday and Cyprus the following Wednesday. Bellamy is due at Cardiff Magistrates court on the Monday to face a charge of assaulting two women in a nightclub in the city in February.

He denies the charge, which could result in a prison sentence if he were to be found guilty.

Toshack said last month: "It will be no problem in the week leading up to Slovakia on the Saturday, although I know he must be concerned about what is going to happen.

"But in the days before we play Cyprus on the Wednesday, we know he will be in court.

"That must be playing on his mind. I would hope and expect him to play in both matches, knowing him as I do. But it is something we will have to think about. I am not sure how we will handle the training situation with Craig. He will be in court while we are working, I will look into how we manage that."