Southend striker Freddy Eastwood has been forced to pull out of the Wales squad to face New Zealand and the Czech Republic through injury.

The 23-year-old missed the end of Southend's season with a back injury and, with the Wales squad due to meet up in seven days, he has been forced to admit defeat in his battle to be fit to make his international debut.

"Unfortunately we have had to pull Freddy out of the Wales squad," club physio John Stannard told www.southendunited.co.uk

"His back hasn't healed as quickly as we'd hoped and Freddy isn't ready for kicking a football, let alone the international stage.

"We're looking at another three to four weeks of intensive physio before he is fully fit."

Eastwood, whose late grandfather was born in Wales, was called up for the first time by John Toshack after scoring 65 goals in three seasons for Southend.

Wales face New Zealand in a friendly on May 26 and host the Czech Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier seven days later.