Earnshaw ready and raring to go
IF Mark Hughes wants a bubbly, pocket dynamo of a player to lift spirits for the Finland game, then Cardiff City hot-shot Robert Earnshaw is ready for the task and raring to go.
Little Earnie has always got an engaging smile on his face anyway, but he seemed to be in an even more confident and upbeat mood as he looked ahead to tomorrow night's Millennium Stadium showdown.
Did Earnshaw feel under any pressure, I asked, about stepping into the suspended Craig Bellamy's shoes?
"I don't know... I think he's about three sizes bigger than me!" came the immediate reply.
Typical Earnie, that. Only he hadn't finished.
"I'm a five-and-a-half boot size. He's a seven or eight."
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Hughes set to shake things up.
JOHN HARTSON believes Mark Hughes will shake up the Wales team for tomorrow's crunch Euro 2004 clash with Finland.
And Hartson reckons midfield will be the focus for change as the Wales manager works out how best to deal with the loss of three key men through suspension.
Hughes is without Robbie Savage and Craig Bellamy, as well as defender Mark Delaney, for the penultimate Group Nine qualifier at the Millennium Stadium.
Sparky was last night keeping his plans under wraps and today's training session - originally open to the media - has been closed to enable him to work on new systems away from the public gaze.
But Hartson, preparing to collect his 37th Welsh cap against the Finns, has an idea what Hughes might do to cover the suspended trio, as well as his ongoing injury worries.
"I think Sparky will try and mix up the midfield a little bit at this point," said the big Celtic striker.
"I've got a feeling what he might do, but I don't want to give it away."
There are a wide range of options open to Hughes as he seeks to put together a side capable of clinching a Group Nine play-off spot.
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Litmanen worry for Finns
Finland playmaker Jari Litmanen has failed to show up in Cardiff with the rest of the squad ahead of Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier with Wales.
The former Liverpool front man may yet travel, but he has been at the centre of a furious row between his club Ajax and the Finnish FA.
Litmanen, who missed Saturday's 2-1 win over Azerbaijan, has been troubled by an achilles tendon injury, and Ajax say he is not fit for international duty.
Mark Pembridge has become the latest injury doubt for Wales. He is suffering from a swollen left foot after the Italy game and on Tuesday was unable to kick a ball.
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Italy prepared for tough game in partisan Belgrade.
BELGRADE, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni is expected to make one change to the side which beat Wales 4-0 as Italy look for a win over Serbia and Montenegro on Wednesday that could sweep them into the Euro 2004 finals.
Lazio's Massimo Oddo, who impressed as a second half substitute, is likely to start ahead of Christian Panucci at right back in the Group Nine qualifier.
Alessandro Del Piero is expected to feature on the left flank again with Christian Vieri and Saturday's hat-trick hero Filippo Inzaghi in attack.
A win in Belgrade could send the group-leading Italians into the European championship finals in Portugal next year if second-placed Wales, one point behind, fail to win at home to Finland. It would secure Italy at least a playoff berth.
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