Wales Faces Triple Setback Ahead of Nations League
Craig Bellamy’s Nations League plans have been hit hard before a ball is even kicked.
Wales have lost three key squad members, with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow all withdrawing ahead of their League A campaign.
Wilson, the Leeds attacking midfielder and Wales’ most influential creative force in recent windows, had been a major doubt with a quad problem and has now been ruled out. Broadhead, the Wrexham forward, was also expected to miss out and his thigh injury has confirmed those fears.
The damage does not stop there. First-choice goalkeeper Darlow has also pulled out, despite a significant week at club level. The Manchester United stopper made his debut for the club in the EFL Cup last week and was on the bench for their Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday, but will not join up with Bellamy’s squad.
Bellamy has turned to experience and youth to plug the gaps.
- Veteran Leicester City goalkeeper David Cornell comes in and is in line for his first senior cap.
- Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor also receives a call-up, another uncapped option in attack.
- Reading midfielder Charlie Savage is the third replacement, adding energy and versatility in the middle of the park.
It all comes with a brutal schedule looming.
Upcoming Matches
Wales open their Nations League campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, a daunting start against heavyweight opposition. They then head to Copenhagen to face Denmark next Sunday, another stern test on the road.
After that, the competition comes home. Norway visit Cardiff on Thursday, 1 October, before Denmark make the return trip to the Welsh capital three days later.
Injuries have already forced Bellamy into a reshuffle. The question now is whether this patched-up squad can survive – and compete – in Europe’s top tier.
