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Celtic striker John Hartson has equalled Wales coach Mark Hughes's record of three Welsh Player of the Year awards, a Wales team spokesman said on Tuesday.
Hartson was presented with the award on Monday night in a ceremony at the team's Cardiff hotel before their final Euro 2004 qualifier at home to Serbia and Montenegro on Saturday.
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Wales, second in Group Nine one point behind Italy, are already assured of a
playoff berth at least.
But they could yet overtake Italy, who are at home to Azerbaijan in their final match, and qualify automatically for their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. Ticketmaster
Hartson, who helped Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 on Saturday to go top of the Scottish premier league, succeeds Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Simon Davies as Welsh Player of the Year.
Davies, who is nursing a groin injury, was one of three players who had to withdraw from the Welsh squad named by Hughes last month for Saturday's game. Ticketmaster
The others were defender Robert Page of Sheffield United, who has a foot injury, and West Bromwich Albion's Andy Johnson (knee). Birmingham City midfielder Robbie Savage is doubtful for the Millennium Stadium match with tendonitis.
Hughes was not expected to pick Page anyway because the defender is one booking away from suspension and Wales do not want to risk one of their senior players missing the first leg of the playoffs scheduled for mid-November. Ticketmaster
Fulham's Andy Melville and Mark Pembridge are in a similar position.