Baggies Midfield Ace Praised By Toshack
Wales boss John Toshack was full of praise for Jason Koumas after his two-goal display in Tuesday's 4-0 friendly win at home to Liechtenstein.Koumas may have started the season in dispute with West Brom but he confirmed with his two goals for Wales against Liechtenstein he is back with a vengeance. Toshack for one is convinced about the well-being of the Wrexham-born midfielder, who was on strike for much of last summer but was the star of the show as his country saw off their European minnow visitors at the Racecourse Ground. Koumas appeared not so long ago to be watching his career slowly disintegrate in a growing wave of recriminations - and he was so much out of condition he would not dare risk himself in a Wales shirt. Toshack, who described Tuesday night's friendly victory as "just what the doctor ordered", said of Koumas: "He has had a dreadful 12 months, and it was good to see him back playing at this level. "His weight of pass and shooting like that was a joy to watch and was as good a performance as he could have wished for." Koumas is suspended for Wales' next Euro 2008 qualifier in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland in March. "That is a shame, because he has become very important for us," said Toshack. Koumas is a certainty to play in Wales' next friendly against Northern Ireland in Belfast in February, however - and will be back for the competitive match after Dublin, against San Marino. Toshack added: "Jason has developed well and has got his form and fitness back. He has accepted the responsibility in central midfield and can only improve now with us."