Jason the ‘missing’ man is now key for Wales

Mar 28 2008 by Simon Kendal-Williams, South Wales Echo

IN Wales’ class of 2008, there’s no doubting who John Toshack considers his star pupil.

His international career has featured more downs than ups and his absence from foreign fixtures is well-documented, but it would appear that Jason Koumas can do little wrong in his coach’s eyes.

In the same amount of time that it has taken Simon Davies to reach the 50-cap milestone for his country, Koumas has limped along to 27 appearances.

His performances, especially in the early days, were often fitful, and lacked the goals his ability promised.

But four goals in his last two games against the Republic of Ireland and Norway finally showed why Toshack rates him so highly.

And although he enjoyed a less fruitful evening in the 2-0 win against Luxembourg, the Wales coach sees the Wigan Athletic midfielder as crucial to his World Cup plans.

“We’re always a lot happier when Jason is here,” said Toshack.

“He’s a key player for us, and we want him involved as much as possible because we’ve a lot better chance of achieving something if he plays regularly for us.

“There are other people playing who can’t do what he can do.

“And if you are going to beat the better sides at the top level, you need a little bit more.”

Wednesday’s low-key friendly in Luxembourg was the first time Koumas had travelled with Wales outside the British Isles for two-and-a-half years.

His reluctance to make a succession of key games has been a major frustration for Welsh fans, especially as at the age of 28, he is one of the few experienced players in a very young squad.

The Wales coach has had more patience than most with his enigmatic play-maker, and Koumas’ apparent re-think over away matches seems to have vindicated Toshack’s softly-softly approach.

“A lot of people probably wouldn’t have put up with him and with some of the stuff we have,” he admitted.

“But when he’s with us, he’s okay.

“He comes up to me and says, ‘All right, Tosh?’, and like I’ve said, he’s a loveable rogue.

“We’re frightened to say there’s a change in him, but when did he last play away from home?

“And he was first here for training this week and he flew back to Manchester at 5am on Thursday.”

On the field, Koumas has had his fair share of critics.

His work-rate has been called into question and he was inclined to go missing against superior opposition, but Toshack has never doubted his worth to the national side.

“People say he doesn’t do this or that,” he said, “but I go back to the piano Bill Shankly used to talk about.

“You need eight of them to carry it and three to play it, and Jason’s one of the ones who can play it, no question about that.

“When he gets the ball you think something is going to happen.

“In tight games you need someone like that.”

He added: “You play him to his strengths.

“There’s 11 in a team, and we’re not playing tennis or boxing, when, if there’s a weakness, you can find him out.

“Jason is 28 and international-wise, he is finally maturing.

“Along with Simon and Craig Bellamy, he should have his best years ahead of him.”

simon.kendal-williams@mediawales.co.uk