Wales began the Craig Bellamy era with a 0-0 Nations League draw against 10-man Turkey in Cardiff. New boss Bellamy did not get the victory he would have craved at kick-off but it was a positive performance from Wales against opponents who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 this summer.

If Harry Wilson scores to put Fulham top of the Premier League on Friday night, then expect Craig Bellamy to be just as happy as the Manchester United-haters. The Premier League season will begin at Old Trafford where most eyes will be drawn towards Erik ten Hag.

Matt Richards is already Wales’ greatest swimmer and he might yet become the country’s most celebrated Olympian. He’s 21 years old – not that you would guess watching his TV interviews from Paris, where his maturity and level-headedness is as clear and bright as his talent.

There are plenty ready to turn the Page on the current Wales manager, but appearances can sometimes be deceptive. At first glance, a goalless draw against Gibraltar is an embarrassing scoreline for any national team that comprises full-time professional players.

Rob Page has insisted Wales’ form is “okay” even though his spell as manager appears to be entering a crisis point following an embarrassing 0-0 draw with Gibraltar. The Wales manager faced up to the jeers directed at him after his team were held to a draw and promised not to lose focus on his long-term plan.

Josh Sheehan has admitted he will have to put aside his surprise on Thursday evening when he pulls on the captain’s armband for Wales. The Bolton Wanderers midfielder will lead a young and experimental Welsh side in a friendly against Gibraltar in Portugal.

Ange Postecoglou has talked up Brennan Johnson’s growing influence and is impressed with how he has handled his debut season at Tottenham. Johnson joined Spurs on transfer deadline day in September for a £47.5million fee from Nottingham Forest and initially struggled to make his mark, with only one goal during the first half of the campaign.

Rob Page has admitted the World Cup in Qatar was an eye-opener that convinced him Wales needed younger, more athletic players if they were to make the Euro 2024 finals. That realisation could pay significant reward on Tuesday night when Wales host Poland in a play-off final at Cardiff City Stadium, with a place in Germany this summer at stake.

Connor Roberts insists he is bristling for a fight against Robert Lewandowski and Poland on Tuesday night. Roberts has embarked on long unbeaten Championship runs at Burnley and Leeds over the last two seasons after putting his razor away and growing a moustache.

Ethan Ampadu reckons Wales are now battle-hardened enough to chop down the Poles next week – and take their place at the Euro 2024 finals this summer. The Wales midfielder played another key role for his team on Thursday night as they flattened Finland 4-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium to set up a play-off final showdown against Poland on Tuesday.

Rob Page has pinpointed Dan James as a symbol of why Wales will go into Tuesday night’s Euro 2024 play-off final against Poland with huge confidence. Wales have not beaten the Poles for over 50 years, but are just one more home victory from making their fourth major tournament finals out of the last five.

Robert Pages is ready to unleash his Welsh speedsters on Poland as he looks to book qualification for this summer’s European Championships.