Joe Allen has come out of international retirement and will be involved in Wales’ upcoming Nations League double-header with Iceland and Montenegro. Allen quit international football in February 2023 saying “time and injuries” had taken their toll, but the 34-year-old has been persuaded to rejoin the Dragons’ fold by new manager and former team-mate Craig Bellamy.

Craig Bellamy expressed pride over Wales’ win in Montenegro after facing what he said were the toughest conditions in his career. Torrential rain in Niksic saw the City Stadium pitch cut up from the early stages, with players regularly losing their footing and the ball skidding everywhere on the sodden surface.

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.

Craig Bellamy has always talked a good game, which is why as a player he was just as watchable off the field as on it. It’s no surprise, then, that in the lead-in to his first match as Wales manager, the former striker has proved entertaining as well as illuminating.

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.

Seven Welsh players have the opportunity to head towards the Premier League on Saturday – although not all of them will make it. The Championship promotion odds are certainly stacked against the Leeds United quartet of Ethan Ampadu, Dan James, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts.

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.