Wales boss John Toshack welcomed back captain Craig Bellamy for his first international since October with as much relief as joy in Iceland.The injury-jinxed West Ham striker appeared for the final 28 minutes of the impressive 1-0 friendly win in Reykjavik on Wednesday night, earning his 50th cap.

Bellamy now seems certain to be back leading his country in a much more difficult game in Rotterdam against Euro 2008-bound Holland on Sunday.

Bellamy last played senior football for a mere 20 minutes as a substitute for the Hammers at Wigan in February.

But he had been troubled with groin problems since Wales' win in San Marino last October.

A stomach operation followed and Bellamy's season was all but ended, until last night's run-out in Iceland.

With stand-in skipper Carl Fletcher on his way home after suffering ankle ligament damage against Iceland - and with Simon Davies out of the trip with ankle problems - Bellamy's final game of the season will be leading his country against the Dutch.

Teenager Ched Evans bagged the winner just five minutes after coming on as substitute for Fletcher for his debut.

But it was Bellamy's appearance that delighted Toshack just as much as Evans' scoring debut.

Toshack said: "That's six games unbeaten and we have used another batch of youngsters. Ched did very well but I was so pleased to see Craig back on the pitch.

"He has been a very unlucky boy with injuries and we have certainly missed his Premier League quality.

"I just hope he now has one more game in him and then goes away for a nice summer break, hopefully to return to pre-season training at West Ham raring to go. We need him as much as they do."

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