Davies fit but cloud hangs over Hartson

Simon Davies has been passed fit to join Wales for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro on 20 August. The Tottenham playmaker has recovered from a calf injury sustained in his club's friendly against PSV Eindhoven on Sunday.

However, there are still concerns over the fitness of Fulham's Andy Melville and John Hartson of Celtic, who have missed their clubs' pre-season programmes, and over Gareth Taylor, who has an eye injury.

The Wales manager, Mark Hughes, is already resigned to being without the midfielder Matthew Jones (back injury) and defender Rob Edwards (ankle), but Mark Delaney is expected to be fit.

Hughes' side visit the FK Crvena Zvezda stadium with a two-point lead over Italy at the top of Group Nine - and this is their game in hand on the Azzurri.

Hartson has been out since undergoing a back operation in May, and though he hopes to be back in action for Celtic in time for the start of the Premiership, he will miss tomorrow's Champions' League qualifier against FBK Kaunas.

"John appears to be recovering well and we hope he'll be involved in a few league games before we travel," Hughes said. "He's larger than life, a leader who can have an impact on the game at the highest level."

A statement from Celtic read: "He [Hartson] continues to progress well in his rehab work, with the club's medical staff happy that his back has healed, but he has been suffering from stiffness in one of his calf muscles."

Hughes insists his table-toppers will take a positive attitude to Belgrade, despite the lack of match practice so early in the season.

"I would have rather the boys had four or five games under their belt, but they will be fit," added Hughes. "We have to go out and look for a positive result. We accept that a lot of people expect us to qualify and we've got to make sure that we don't let them down.

"If we're going to qualify I don't just want to stumble over the line, I want to make a mark. We have an opportunity to do that this time. I want a positive result in Belgrade - I'll take a draw or a win."

WALES SQUAD v Serbia and Montenegro, Belgrade, 20 August): Goalkeepers: Coyne (Leicester), Mark Crossley (Middlesbrough), Jones (Southampton), Ward (Nottingham Forest). Defenders: Barnard (Grimsby), Delaney (Aston Villa), Gabbidon (Cardiff), Melville (Fulham), Page (Sheffield United), Symons (Crystal Palace), Weston (Cardiff), Williams (Reading). Midfielders: Davies (Tottenham), Johnson (West Bromwich), Koumas (West Bromwich), Oster (Sunderland), Pembridge (Everton), Robinson (Portsmouth), Savage (Birmingham), Speed (Newcastle), Trollope (Northampton). Forwards: Bellamy (Newcastle), Blake (Wolverhampton), Earnshaw (Cardiff), Giggs (Manchester United), Hartson (Celtic), Taylor (Burnley).