Gareth knows the way to San Jose

Last updated : 06 May 2003 By Tony Scholes

Wales take on the United States of America in a friendly international on Monday 26th May with the game taking place in San Jose and manager Mark Hughes has named an initial squad of 29 players that he will later reduce to 20.

Gareth Taylor has again been selected and will be hoping to be on the right side of the cut off as he looks to add to his Welsh caps.

Apparently the Welsh players are not so good at remembering their country’s international games and Hughes said today, "It’s important that all potential squad members are aware of the match, and that’s why I have picked such a large squad.

"There are question marks over certain players’ fitness and that will also be monitored over the next week or two. There are still a lot of important matches to be played in the Premiership, Nationwide Leagues and FA and UEFA Cup Finals, so it is difficult to know what the final make-up of the squad will be.

"The match with the USA will be a good test for the players and it is certainly not going to be easy. The days of the USA being a push-over in World Football are long gone and we are all well aware of that."

There is no news as yet as to when Hughes will reduce the squad but Taylor will be hoping to get his first start for Wales since joining Burnley, to date he has made three appearances as a substitute.