John Toshack has urged Wales' youngsters to make history

The 1958 World Cup squad are the only Welsh team to qualify for a major finals but Brian Flynn's Under-21s are in a good position to change that.

Wales face Malta in a vital UEFA qualifier on Tuesday boosted by their stunning win against favourites France.

Wales boss John Toshack said: "It is a great opportunity to qualify and when the door opens, we must take it."

With so many of Toshack's seniors still qualified for the Under-21s, there is every chance that the best Welsh kids could be promoted to the A-team for the World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

Manchester City striker Ched Evans, West Ham midfielder Jack Collison and Cardiff City playmaker Aaron Ramsey are highly-rated by Toshack.

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"We want to do everything possible to help the Under-21s," said former Real Madrid manager Toshack.

"We have lads coming through who are close to the first team squad but they will be needed for the Under-21s.

"We want to qualify from this group, it is a great opportunity. If we finish second it takes us into a play-off in October to reach the finals in Sweden in 2009.

"The door is open now for the Under-21s because we can qualify, the win over France in November has convinced us of that.

"We really must win in Malta.

"Then there is a tough one against Bosnia in March before we have Romania home and away.

"I would not rule out some of the lads in the senior squad dropping back into the Under-21s for maybe one or two group matches.

"They will all have it explained to them what we are doing and why so nobody will need to feel that they have been pushed down into the Under-21s.

"If you take the Under-21 side that beat France plus the nine lads already in the senior squad still qualified, and we have 20 young players all coming through together at roughly the same age.

"There is still a lot of work to do.

"Three of their last four are away from home and even then there could be another double header to get to the finals, but we are absolutely delighted with the way they are going."

Flynn has been praised for his work at youth and Under-21 levels with Wales and the production line of youngsters are now being utilised by Toshack at senior level.

Flynn said: "Having beaten the French it would all be wasted if we cannot win in Malta.

"I am delighted with the young players I have got, it is a growing group with some more to get through from the Under-17s and Under-19s.

We have lads in the Under-21s who are close to the first team Wales boss John Toshack

"We have improved a lot. The real breakthrough for me was winning away in Sweden last year. We were 3-1 down and won 4-3. That kick-started our confidence.

"We then gave France a tough game in Grenoble, only losing to a late own goal, and then beat them in Cardiff. Now we must not waste this opportunity."

Wales Under-21 squad for Uefa Group 10 match against Malta Under-21 at Hibernians FC, Malta on Tuesday, 5 February:

Rhys Taylor (Chelsea), Owain Fon Williams (Crewe Alex), Joe Jacobson (Bristol Rovers), Darcy Blake (Cardiff City), Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City), Neil Taylor (Wrexham), Mike Williams (Wrexham), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Lloyd James (Southampton), Jack Collison (West Ham), Andy King (Leicester City), Shaun MacDonald (Swansea City), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City), Jonathan Brown (Cardiff), Simon Church (Reading), Ched Evans (Manchester City, loan Norwich City), Sam Vokes (AFC Bournemouth).