Battered West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill says no to Wales

Albion keeper Boaz Myhill today withdrew from the Wales squad as he revealed he battled through injuries to line up for the Baggies at Chelsea.

moreThe former Hull man will miss the friendly against Finland in Cardiff on Friday in favour of rest and treatment on Achilles and thumb injuries.

The 31-year-old, who had hinted he was considering his international future after being dropped in favour of Wolves' Wayne Hennessey, is struggling with an Achilles problem and damaged ligaments in his thumb that prevented him from training until Friday last week.

He said: "We want the players to go away and have a successful time on international duty. But personally I am going to need treatment on a couple of injuries I've picked up in recent weeks.

"I've not trained for a while and I'm glad for the rest because it means I can do some work in the gym with the physios. So the break has come at a good time for me.

"I was really struggling last week and I'm grateful to the medical staff for the help they've given me to get on the pitch."

Albion saw Ireland international Shane Long bag his first goal of the season in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea while summer signing Stephane Sessegnon continued the impressive start to his Baggies career with the team's second goal.

And defender Steven Reid was full of praise for Long in particular.

"In every game Shane goes out with real desire," said Reid.

"He deserved the goal because he was a real nuisance all afternoon for Gary Cahill and John Terry and hopefully that will give him the confidence to have a good season now he's off the mark."