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Wigan striker David Cotterill could have put his international future under John Toshack in jeopardy after criticising the Wales manager.

"Tosh said he's been very disappointed with me this year," the 19-year-old, who was left out of Wales' squad last week, told the Wales on Sunday paper.

"But I've played 20 games in the Premiership, that's not bad for a young kid in his first year. Tosh said he wants players in the Premiership but has gone back on that."

Toshack appeared to be speaking about Cotterill, Richard Duffy and Paul Parry when he said: "I don't want to leave these guys out, but young players often need to get re-focused. Sometimes you've got to be cruel to be kind. I did it to people like Iker Casillas, Samuel Eto'o and Xabi Alonso when they were kids."

Cotterill moved to the Latics from Bristol City for £2m last summer, but has now slipped behind the likes of Freddy Eastwood and Daniel Nardiello in Wales' front-line options.

"Tosh said I haven't been playing regularly, but other Welsh players who haven't been playing regularly are still in the squad and I thought Wales needed strikers," said the youngster.

"It seems like there's one rule for me and one rule for others. I started well at Wigan but when we got into relegation trouble the manager went for experienced players, that has gone against me. I wasn't happy with the timing of Tosh's call either. He rang the day before a crucial relegation battle against West Ham. He could have picked a more appropriate time because to receive such bad news was a psychological blow. He should have called me a few days earlier."

Meanwhile, Toshack has given words of advice to two potential successors in the Wales job, Chris Coleman and Gary Speed.

Coleman has been out of work since getting the sack at Fulham last month, but Toshack says he has spoken to him about joining Wales' back-room staff on a game-by-game basis.

"We have often discussed about him coming in and helping us out with a bit of training," said Toshack.

"The lads rate him highly as a coach and I am a huge admirer but I may be a little biased because I've known Chris since he was 10. I was surprised Chris got the sack because I feel he did a good job at Fulham with limited resources, but I've spoken to him and he will come back stronger."

Speed took an early step on the managerial ladder when new Bolton boss Sammy Lee appointed him as his assistant last week.

"A managerial partnership of Sammy Lee and Gary Speed looks a good one to me," said Toshack.

"You've got an experienced football man with a young man who has a lot to offer football management. I could always see Gary being a manager - and a good one, too. Gary conducts himself in an extremely professional manner and that is the reason why he continues to play consistently well at the highest level. He has the right attitude and commitment."