ROBBIE Savage (pictured) has defiantly hit-back at Wales manager John Toshack, telling him "I'll only play for Wales again if you get the boot."

The 39-cap Blackburn midfielder quit the international scene on Monday, after Toshack left him out of the squad to face Austria in a vital World Cup qualifying double-header later month.

But Savage, who initially stated that he had quit to prolong his club career, has launched a stinging attack on Toshack, branding him "out of touch" and "a complete joke."

The former Birmingham man has also predicted that yet more players will walk out on Wales in protest at Toshack's "laughable methods."

It means that Toshack, a legend as a player and a decorated club manager, is already under-fire with sections of the Welsh Press and supporters, despite not even presiding over a competitive game so far.

Savage went on to compare his situation to that of Roy Keane, who walked out of the 2002 World Cup after a furious bust-up with then Eire manager Mick McCarthy.

Savage said: "I spoke out and it was a bit like the Roy Keane situation, I was just speaking up for the lads.

"Toshack is living in the dark ages with his food and his training methods. I think were will be a few more to go very soon."

The Argus understands that several players were bemused by the new rules imposed by Toshack in the lead-up to last month's 2-0 friendly win over Hungary.

Toshack would not allow his players to leave their hotel during the afternoons and he banned them from ordering room service, imposing a strict minimalist diet which was compulsory.

Savage continued: "We had fried bananas to start the meals which no-one's ever heard of. There were no carbohydrates. The training methods were a shambles.

"We were all sneaking out to the petrol station to buy chocolate because we were starving.

"I think were will be a few more players to go very soon, life under him is a shambles."

It seems clear that both Toshack and Savage have made mistakes in this fall-out, which can surely only damage the national side.

While Toshack is in his rights to pick who he wants, it is laughable to even suggest that Savage, a three million pound Premiership footballer, is not good enough to be in the squad.

Toshack has left Savage out because of personal grievances against the player, unquestionably a classic example of biting off your nose to spite your face.

But Savage must also shoulder some of the blame in this episode.

Had he bided his time and not acted so hastily in retiring from international football, surely public support would have been with him, as he is hugely popular amongst the Wales supporters.

After all, surely it is these supporters who are ultimately the people who will lose out in this sorry episode, as the depth of a decimated squad is reduced further.

When Wales line-up against Austria they will have just three Premiership players in their side, which can hardly bode well for the future under Toshack.