BOBBY Gould is ready to confirm Nathan Blake's sensational return to form by naming him in his Wales World Cup squad tomorrow.

The Welsh boss saw the Wanderers 11-goal top scorer claim the winner in Tuesday's Coca-Cola Cup triumph over Chelsea and immediately lined him up to replace the suspended Mark Hughes in the November 9 qualifier in Holland.

Gould has also made personal checks on Sheffield United's Gareth Taylor and Arsenal's John Hartson but says 24-year-old Blake, who admits himself that he had a torrid start to his Burnden career last season, is back on song.

He acknowledged: "Nathan's playing ever so well and scoring a lot of goals.

"When you make moves from different clubs in such a short period of time, it comes down to confidence and if a striker isn't scoring his confidence dips even further. Nathan could have been in that position after last season but he's over that now."

And he quashed any suggestion that Division One football will go against the Burnden hero.

"Everybody has an opportunity," Gould added. "You have to play well at the level you are at. Who's to say you can't play at international level if you believe in your own ability?"

Blake, who already has five caps to his name, is playing it cool. He admitted: "I wasn't aware of Bobby Gould being in the crowd but that's not something that I wouldn't think about anyway.

"Mark (Hughes) has got a ban for the Holland game but there are a few other people in there as well.

"The last time I was called into the squad I was about fourth or fifth choice striker, so we'll just have to wait and see."

International calls are expected to force the postponement of Wanderers' Division One game at Birmingham, scheduled for Nov 9. The match has been pencilled in for Wednesday, Nov 13.

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