BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has urged John Toshack to bury the hatchet with Robbie Savage and make a firm decision regarding his international career.

Savage is desperate to play for Wales again after making a u-turn on his decision to quit international football, but so far Toshack has refused to say whether the 30-year-old is part of his plans for the future or not and Hughes is concerned that all the uncertainty could start to affect the midfielder's form in the Premiership.

The Rovers chief said: "I would like someone to actually come out and say whether or not Robbie's going to play, or if he's in the Welsh manager's plans because I think Robbie needs to get it clear in his own mind that he's either an international footballer or an ex-international footballer.

"I think the situation needs to be clarified."

Savage announced his decision to quit international football during the second half of last season when Toshack dropped him for a World Cup double header with Austria.

But the former Birmingham player has since had a change of heart and would jump at the chance of playing for his country again if his rift with Toshack can be healed.

The tough-tackling midfielder's relationship with Wales fans has been adversely affected following his spat with the national coach and he was booed at Swansea on Saturday when he made his comeback in Rovers' 4-1 friendly win.

However Hughes believes his £3 million signing deserves a break after being painted out as the bad guy over the last few months.

"They've been force-fed a lot of rubbish from a lot of avenues and maybe that has clouded their opinions of the qualities of Robbie Savage, which is disappointing," said Hughes.

"He's given Wales good service in the past and he'd like to give them more."