Bellamy to skipper Wales

Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will captain Wales for their clash with Costa Rica on Wednesday, the memorial match for the late Gary Speed.

The 32-year-old, who was a team-mate of Speed’s at Newcastle and the Welsh national side, last skippered his country in September 2010 and he resigned from the post later that year.

But with new captain Aaron Ramsey sidelined with an ankle problem, Bellamy will once again lead Wales in what is sure to be an emotional evening at Cardiff City Stadium.

The match will be Bellamy’s 68th international cap.

Speed passed away on November 27, and although Chris Coleman was named new Wales manager on January 19, Speed’s former assistant Osian Roberts will be in charge against Costa Rica.

Roberts said that although the match will be a tribute to Speed, it will also be an important fixture as they get ready for a World Cup qualifier against Belgium in September.

“It’s a memorial match for Gary but he was the ultimate professional and he would not want us to be standing still and not getting things out of this game,” Roberts said.

“From a footballing viewpoint we’ve got to prepare.”

“We haven’t got a lot of time until September 7 against Belgium at home. It sounds a long way away but it’s not, it’s about 10 or 11 days of preparation for us.”

“So the three days that we’ll have together, we’ve got to squeeze everything out of that opportunity that we possibly can, and we can’t stand still.”