Wales skipper Gary Speed reaches the milestone of 60 caps with a burning desire to change his nation's image as losers.

The Newcastle midfielder will lead out his country against Norway at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in their World Cup qualifying crunch, knowing that only nine other players have collected more caps for Wales in its 124-year soccer history.

Speed, 31 last month, admits he has ''no chance'' of eclipsing Neville Southall's all-time record of 92 internationals, but before he hangs up his boots he wants the ultimate achievement of leading Wales to their first finals since 1958.

Wales have lost their last four games on the trot and won just five of their last 19. It is a depressing record that hurts Speed.

He said: ''It's very important for me to see Wales successful, whether I'm captain or not.

''I have this passion to see Wales progress to a finals. You want to win every game for your country, there's no better feeling. If we can do that regularly then we can get to a major championships.

''That's what all Wales wants, it's what all the squad want and it's what I want. But we do need consistency to put Wales back on the map.''

Wales have already lost their opening group five qualifier, 2-1 in Belarus, and if they fail in a tough double-header against Norway and then Poland next Wednesday, their dreams could already be almost doomed.

Speed said: ''Sadly in Belarus it was a desperately poor performance and we all feel we have to do something to put that right.

''The feeling among the lads is that we owe the boss Mark Hughes a performance.

''The players feel totally responsible for what went wrong in Belarus, we all admit it was our fault and that we let ourselves down.

''This is my third World Cup campaign and the desire is still there, whether you are 18 or 31, to achieve something.

''We hear a lot about the heroes of 1958, some of them were at our annual dinner this week and they deserve all the respect that's going.

''What I want is for one day people to look at the players in this current squad with the same fond memories and the same respect.''

Few deserve success more than Speed, whose consistency and constant availability puts many others to shame.

Since he made his debut in 1990 against Costa Rica, Speed has missed 11 of Wales' 70 games, missing just two of the 26 in the last four years.

Speed said: ''It's a great honour for me to play for Wales, and to reach such a milestone as 60 appearances.

''I've been very lucky over the last 10 years since I made my debut as far as having only a few injuries, which has certainly helped me get to this point.

''Although I've kept myself fit, you always have to have a bit of luck along the way to play this many times for your country.

''I've been lucky, wherever I've played from Leeds to Everton to Newcastle, that I've pretty much always been in the team and that helps being selected at international level.''

He added: ''I've also been lucky with my managers. There's never been a time when anyone has said to me, don't go to play an international because of some minor injury or something.

''Wild horses wouldn't stop me playing for Wales, so the manager would really have to stamp his authority to keep me away. But I've been lucky with Howard Wilkinson, Joe Royle, Howard Kendall, Kenny Dalglish and now Bobby Robson.

''They understand, most of them have been internationals themselves so they know how important it is to play for your country. They've all been very supportive.''

Hughes is waiting on the outcome of late fitness tests on John Robinson and Robbie Savage, but both should be fit.

He could also gamble on youngsters Mark Delaney and Matthew Jones, who have been hit by injuries this season and barely figured for their club sides, Aston Villa and Leeds respectively.

Hughes said: ''There is a sense of anticipation, everyone is in the right frame of mind and wants to improve on our last result.

''This is our first home game in the group, and you have to win in front of your own fans. Norway are a tough side, they have a pattern and style of play they all know and make work.

''But it's important that we are all positive and it will be good to have John Hartson back.

''He has been through a difficult time and has come back with a point to prove. The best way will be on the pitch against Norway and then Poland.''

Wales (possible starting line-up): Jones (Southampton), Delaney (Aston Villa), Melville, Coleman (both Fulham), Roberts (Tranmere), Savage (Leicester), Jones (Leeds), Speed (Newcastle), Robinson (Charlton), Giggs (Man Utd), Hartson (Wimbledon).

l Mick McCarthy insists he has no special plan to curb the world's most expensive player, Portugal's Luis Figo, as the Republic of Ireland look to pull off another shock result in today's World Cup qualifier.

The Real Madrid ace, who cost £37m from Spanish rivals Barcelona this summer, carries the main individual threat to McCarthy's hopes of adding another impressive performance to the 2-2 draw in Holland last month.

Figo destroyed England in Euro 2000 as Portugal reached the semi-finals and, according to the Republic boss, is ''a fantastic player."

McCarthy has the ideal watchdog in Roy Keane to guard against Figo wrecking all the confidence and self-belief which his centre-back pairing of Richard Dunne and Gary Breen gained from their match in Amsterdam