ROBBIE Savage today insisted he will not go back on his decision to quit international football - unless Wales boss John Toshack attempts to heal the rift between the pair.

Savage quit international football last month after Toshack omitted him from his squad for the two group six World Cup qualifiers against Austria.

The pair have since been involved in a bitter war of words and a reconciliation looked unlikely until the press began hinting at a possible U-turn by Savage late last week.

However, in an exclusive interview with the Evening Telegraph, the Blackburn Rovers midfielder has said he will only reconsider his position if Toshack picks up the phone and makes the first move.

Savage said: "A lot of people have said I've done a U-turn but I don't know where this has all come from because I've not spoken to anyone about it.

"All the press and the manager have spoken about it, which is their prerogative, but I've not mentioned it and I've not rung anyone to say I want to go back.

"I've got nothing to apologise about. I told the truth, I've always told the truth, and I do feel I was good enough to get in the 24-man squad that lost to a team who are below them in the world rankings.

"Maybe I said a few things that were disrespectful but what I said was the truth and the one thing I won't do is pick up the phone to John Toshack and apologise because I don't think I need to.

"I've done nothing wrong and I retired because I didn't want to be humiliated.

"I feel as though the phone should be picked up to me and they should be saying we'd like you back in the squad because I feel I'm good enough.

"If he (the manager) does that then I'll go back but until that time, if we are both going to be a stubborn as each other, then nothing will happen."

Few players wore the Wales shirt with more pride than Savage, who was one of the most influential players in the side when Mark Hughes was manager of the national team.

However, the climate suddenly changed when Toshack was appointed as Hughes' successor as Savage had publicly stated prior to his appointment that he didn't want the former Real Madrid boss to take over.

That created immediate tension in their relationship and Toshack recently took the surprise step of dropping Savage in favour of West Ham's Carl Fletcher - a player unproven at Premiership level - for the two games against Austria, which Wales subsequently lost, and prompted the 30-year-old to retire.

"Obviously, I'd love to play for Wales and people might say if that's the case then why don't I ring him up?" said Savage, who has 39 caps.

"But this is a matter of principle."

Meanwhile, Savage is confident he will be fit to face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup - and he hasn't ruled out being ready for Saturday's crucial Premiership clash with Southampton, either.