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Bold Craig Bellamy Starts To Shape Wales’ Future

Wales' head coach Craig Bellamy. Pic: Alamy

Wales' head coach Craig Bellamy. Pic: Alamy

The summer World Cup qualifiers are looming for Wales, but manager Craig Bellamy is looking further down the road ahead, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

In mid-May, Craig Bellamy announced a 29-man squad for a training camp in Cardiff and Spain ahead of Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium in June.

Bellamy - who names his squad on Wednesday - was unable to include Premier League players including Tottenham Hotspur duo Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson, along with Fulham's Harry Wilson.

Sheffield United's Kieffer Moore and Sunderland's Chris Mepham also missed out due to their involvement in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The absence of several key men afforded Bellamy the opportunity to include 14 uncapped players in the training camp.

Fulham's Luke Harris - who spent last season on loan with League One champions Birmingham City - is arguably the most recognisable of that contingent given his involvement with senior squads over recent years.

Coventry City's Kai Andrews was also involved in the squad in March following an impressive stint on loan with Motherwell.

But there are other names that may not be so familiar to the Red Wall.

Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio, Luey Giles and Cian Ashford will be well known to the Cardiff City faithful, particularly the latter who scored three goals in 31 senior appearances across all competitions for the Bluebirds last season.

Ashford's representatives have long held high hopes for the Rhondda-born forward, and his breakthrough season - despite one in which the Bluebirds were relegated - offered plenty of hope ahead of Cardiff's upcoming League One campaign.

Centre-back Lawlor has captained Wales' under-16 and under-19 sides and made his first team debut for Cardiff in their FA Cup clash with Aston Villa in February. 

READ MORE: Karl Darlow’s Saves For Wales And Leeds United Are Good . . . But Not As Good As The Save Made By Craig Bellamy

The 19-year-old went on to feature in the final day defeat to Norwich under caretaker boss Aaron Ramsey.
Left-back Giles and right-back Kpakio both made their first team bows for the Bluebirds in 2024 and would also likely benefit from being based at the Vale - training base to both Cardiff and Wales.

Swansea City are again well represented as Sam Parker and Joel Cotterill join the more regular trio of Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper.

Parker is highly-rated by Swansea's coaching staff and made three senior appearances midway through the 2023-24 season before suffering a serious hamstring injury.

The versatile 18-year-old, who can operate in a variety of roles on the right, would almost certainly have had more senior appearances to his name had he not suffered setbacks, although he featured seven times in the Championship in the second half of last season.

As for Cotterill, he has been a key figure for his country's Under-21s and made 48 appearances in all competitions on loan at Swindon last term - scoring five goals. 

Could he help solve Wales' lack of central midfield options in the near future?

Manchester United's Gabriele Biancheri, formerly of Cardiff, is undoubtedly the name on the lips of fans and media alike of late.

READ MORE: Ben Davies Backs Ange Postecoglou And Savours Spurs’ Long-Awaited European Glory

He has represented Wales' Under-19s but, following his recent involvement under Bellamy, the 18-year-old was called up to Canada's upcoming training camp - the nation from which his mother hails.

“I’ve had good conversations with Gabe and his family," said Canada boss Jesse Marsch when asked about the youngster.

"He has several options to think about in what country he wants to represent. 

“I always feel like, for a lot of the dual nationals that I’m talking to, the best way for them to really feel how great it is to be around this team is to be around the team, because the guys are great, the environment is really strong and open."

Ireland-born David Harrington qualifies through his Bangor-born father, Phil Harrington, who was also a goalkeeper, and is no stranger to the Wales set-up having been introduced into the fold in November under Bellamy.

With Wayne Hennessey's future uncertain following a lengthy spell out injured and Danny Ward still not playing at Leicester, Bellamy needs more competition for Leeds United shot-stopper Karl Darlow.

It goes some way to explaining the inclusion of Wolves' Lewys Benjamin, who has been involved with Matty Jones' Under-21 side.

READ MORE: Brennan Johnson Gets The Job Done For Tottenham . . . And Is Ready To Do The Same For Wales

Elsewhere, Manchester City defender Rhys Thomas - who hails from Conwy - has had the opportunity to impress Bellamy following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

Norwich's attacking midfielder Elliot Myles has featured for both Wales and England at youth level, and he impressed sufficiently to make four senior appearances for the Canaries last season, only turning 18 years of age in January.

Finally, but by no means lastly, comes Plymouth Argyle winger Freddie Issaka, who in August 2021 became the youngest ever player to represent the Pilgrims' first team when he featured in the EFL Trophy against Newport County, aged just 15 years and 34 days old.

Still just 18, Issaka - who has also represented both Wales and England's youth sides - has already amassed 35 first team appearances for Plymouth and netted his first senior goal in a remarkable 3-3 draw with Preston in the Championship in October.

So, plenty of players were handed the chance to impress during the training camp, and you would imagine a number of those 14 uncapped players will go on to make their international bows for Wales at some stage in the future as Bellamy continues to evolve the squad.

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