Jason Koumas is finally back in the Wales fold, aiming to make up for lost time and repay boss John Toshack's faith in him.

The West Bromwich Albion midfielder could be given a key role over the next week in the absence of the injured Ryan Giggs, with Wales facing critical Euro 2008 qualifiers at home to Slovakia and Cyprus in Cardiff.

But after a summer of dis-content when he spectacularly fell out with former Albion boss Bryan Robson and in effect went on strike and refused to return for pre-season training, Koumas finds himself still a wanted man by his country.

Koumas was hoping for a move to Cardiff - now the Coca-Cola Championship leaders - and was in serious disciplinary trouble with Albion but Koumas says national boss Toshack stood by him and talked him into returning to training with his club.

Now Koumas says: "I have played in the last three games for Albion and I feel fine. I am getting stronger with each game and I enjoyed the match on Saturday against Leeds, I feel I am just coming into form now.

"Now I hope to get the chance to show people what I can do. Things dragged on in the summer and that shouldn't have happened.

"That was my own fault, I should have gone back to training earlier and I accept that was a mistake I made. Now I am just glad to be back and feeling good." He added: "I spoke a lot to John Toshack during the summer, he gave me advice and I knew exactly where I was with him.

"I am here now with the squad, aiming to do well for him. People do think I am a difficult player to handle and that is unfair, but what can I do?

"If you look in from the outside, people are always going to say that, considering what has happened. But for Wales, I have enjoyed my time in every squad I have played in, I do not want to be missing any more internationals now. There are big games coming up I want to play in.

"I did not feel John gave me any ultimatums. The reason why I wasn't with the squad last month was because I had not really had any pre-season training apart from what I did on my own. Any player would have said the same but I am here now and I aim to do myself justice."

Toshack spent the summer trying to talk Koumas into making peace with Albion. He said: "I spoke with Tosh all summer, he gave me great advice and I thank him for that. Now I aim to repay him."

* Scotland manager Walter Smith allowed Everton duo David Weir and James McFadden to stake a claim for a place against France at Hampden Park on Saturday by playing for the Goodison reserves against Sheffield United last night.

Weir has spent most of his time on the Everton bench recently while McFadden has not played since the 2-1 win in Lithuania last month where he limped off with a hamstring injury.

With the Scotland squad being stretched to its limit, options for the former Rangers and Everton boss are limited. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Kenny Miller is suspended, defenders Graeme Murty and Kevin McNaughton have withdrawn injured and stopper Russell A nderson has a hip complaint.