Craig Bellamy has called for his Wales squad to refocus ahead of their critical World Cup qualifiers, urging players to put club highs and lows behind them.
The Wales manager wants his squad to move on quickly from the joys of promotions – or the despair of near misses and relegations - and fully commit to the international stage.
Bellamy’s message was clear: no matter if players arrive “on a trampoline or with a ball around their neck,” their past season’s successes or struggles must be set aside.
Wales approach their upcoming clashes with Liechtenstein and Belgium buoyed by recent club triumphs.
Brennan Johnson and Ben Davies lifted the Europa League trophy with Tottenham, while a group of Leeds players — Karl Darlow, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, and Daniel James — are riding high after securing promotion back to the Premier League.
Connor Roberts also celebrated promotion with Burnley.
Still, Bellamy remains cautious about placing too much weight on domestic form.
“It’s a positive [to have winners in the squad],” he acknowledged.
“But when I was at a club, anyone who went away for international football and came back it was: ‘Forget about what you’ve just done. Focus on what we’re doing here. Every meeting, every part of football you thought you’d just learned there, forget about it. Get back on track here.’”
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The former striker has stressed that unity and humility are vital.
“You’re in a different world, you need to be in our world and they always are. Whether they’re coming in on a trampoline or with a ball round their neck, off we go.”
The squad announcement featured some fresh faces, including Cardiff City teenager Ronan Kpakio, who earned his first senior call-up.
Notably absent, however, was 18-year-old Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri, who instead accepted an invitation to train with the Canadian national team ahead of their summer fixtures against Ukraine and Ivory Coast.
Bellamy, though, remains untroubled by Biancheri’s decision.
“I like people having options, it’s healthy,” he said.
“He’s not ready for our squad yet. It’s something he’d like to go and have a look at, but I like to think we have done our work as well.”
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Biancheri, eligible for Wales, Canada, and Italy, has been part of the Welsh set-up from U16 to U19 levels and was recently involved in their training camp in Spain.
“I don’t think it ever hurts someone to have options and to go and explore them. I’m never against that,” Bellamy said.
“At the end the decision will be his. He knows where we are and where he is. He’s not ready for first-team football with us at this moment.”
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has spoken highly of Biancheri, drawing comparisons to Lille’s Jonathan David.
“He’s a dynamic player. He’s very good around the goal. You can see he’s an intelligent player,” Marsch told reporters.
“He’s a version of Jonathan David... He’s a striker that can play up on the backline and is also good at coming underneath and connecting plays.”
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Meanwhile, Wales will move forward without veteran midfielder Joe Allen, who has retired for the second and final time.
Allen briefly reversed an earlier decision to step away from international football, but after March’s dramatic 1-1 draw in North Macedonia — where his errant pass nearly cost Wales the game before David Brooks salvaged a point — he has chosen to call time on his career.
“I knew he was going to retire,” said Bellamy.
“When we conceded, it was like: ‘There’s no way this is going to be his last touch for us.’ Even if I would delay it after we play this one in June, you are not finishing that way.’”
Bellamy has also addressed the recent casualties among fans at Liverpool’s title celebration, an incident that deeply affected him.
“It’s heartbreaking to go to what should be an incredible moment, the most successful club in England with 20 titles, which was so important,” he said.
“I am a Liverpool fan and to see that happen was incredible. I’m probably like everyone else, I’m still trying to absorb it. Maybe I will in the next few weeks, but it is still quite raw for me.”
