WALES striker Nathan Blake says he will be ready and willing to help fire Wales into the 2006 World Cup should manager Mark Hughes ask him.

The big hitman from Ringland in Newport has enjoyed a dream week, sealing a big money move to Leicester City and being named in the Wales squad to face Latvia in Riga on August 18.

While he accepts he may not be first choice striker he will always be waiting in the wings to lend a hand.

Blake said: "In the last two championship campaigns Sparky has gone with one up front, which doesn't leave a lot of room for anyone else because you have to assume that John Hartson is the first choice.

"That may change in these qualifiers and the manager may look at other formations. I always enjoy being in the Wales squad and I only missed the last few through injury.

"I will always be up for being a part of it when I'm needed and will work hard in training and be ready if I get involved. It is just a case of wait and see what happens."

With Hughes' tactics being questioned after the play-off defeat due to the lack of a coherent plan B coupled with the injury problems to John Hartson and David Bellamy, 32-year-old Blake may be more involved in the qualifiers than he thinks as he takes his place alongside four other Gwent players.

Cardiff City trio Paul Parry, who has bought a house in Monmouth, Cwmbran's Danny Gabbidon and Newport's James Collins are joined by Bournemouth's Carl Fletcher, whose grandparents hail from Ebbw Vale.

Blake is looking forward to the new season after snubbing a move to Sunderland in favour of a switch to the side relegated from the Premiership along with former club Wolves.

He said: "My main priority lies with club football, I'll worry about Wales later.

"I can't wait to get started. It's an exciting move as I have left one big club and gone to an even bigger one. "It is a great move and I will be working really hard over the next few weeks to get myself in the best possible shape.

"The season kicks off on Saturday and I may be a bit behind the other lads in fitness because I haven't played for a long time. But I'm looking forward to playing again at a great club."

Wales squad: D Coyne (Burnley), M Crossley (Fulham), P Jones (Wolves), D Ward (Forest), J Collins (Cardiff), M Delaney (A Villa), R Edwards (Wolves), D Gabbidon (Cardiff), A Melville (West Ham), R Page (Cardiff), G Roberts (Tranmere), B Thatcher (Man City), C Fletcher (Bournemouth), A Johnson, J Koumas (WBA), J Oster (Sunderland), P Parry (Cardiff), M Pembridge (Fulham), C Robinson (Sunderland), R Savage (Birmingham), G Speed (Bolton), C Bellamy (Newcastle), N Blake (Leicester), R Earnshaw (Cardiff), J Hartson (Celtic), G Taylor (Forest).