Gareth Bale has warned his Wales teammates not to risk their World Cup qualification bid by taking Estonia lightly on Wednesday night. The Wales captain insists his team are focused on upsetting Belgium and winning their qualifying group. Belgium, the world’s number one ranked team, lead the way in Group E with 13 points from five games and have so far scored 20 goals in qualification.

Gareth Bale praised Wales for overcoming a stack of awkward hurdles on their way to a vital 3-2 comeback victory in their World Cup qualification tie against Belarus. Bale ended his two-year Wales scoring drought as his hat-trick secured a thrilling win in Kazan. The Real Madrid star had not added to his record 33 goals since scoring against Croatia in October 2019 – a run of 16 games. He’s now been involved in all five of Wales’ goals in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup (three goals, two assists).

Gareth Bale insists he will play for Wales and Real Madrid until next summer – and that any further in the future is not worth discussing. Bale spent the end of last season and Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign refusing to go into detail on both his club future and suggestions he was poised to quit international football. But on the eve of a crucial World Cup qualifier with Belarus, the 32-year-old put his cards on the table.

Wales resume their World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday when they face Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan. It’s another long haul trip for Rob Page’s squad who have had to get used to doing it the hard way in recent months. But few of their players can match the miles on the clock being run up by Dylan Levitt, as Graham Thomas reports. Dylan Levitt is hopeful the substantial air miles he is clocking up can qualify him for a place at the World Cup finals with Wales next summer. The Manchester United midfielder is pressing for a starting spot for his country in their vital qualifier against Belarus on Sunday, a match that is live on S4C.

By Paul Jones The Football Association of Wales have made it clear that there was no dig at UEFA after their players did not wear the “Respect” sleeve patches during Wednesday night’s friendly in Finland. Wales and UEFA have been at loggerheads since European football’s governing body decided to stage Sunday’s 2022 World Cup qualifier with Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan. Interim boss Robert Page has described going to Russia as a “logistical nightmare”.

Daniel James is set to be unleashed against Belarus on Sunday after the Wales winger was considered too stressed for the friendly against Finland. Interim manager Robert Page left James out of the squad completely in Helsinki on Wednesday following his deadline-day transfer from Manchester United to Leeds. The winger rejoined the rest of the Wales party for the 0-0 draw in the Finnish capital after leaving camp on Tuesday to seal his move to Elland Road.

Brennan Johnson is hoping for success with Wales in vital World Cup qualifiers over the next few days – and another well done message from David Beckham. The 20-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder has already received a clutch of congratulatory texts from England legend Beckham for his achievements at club level. Now, Johnson is hoping a first start for Wales in the friendly against Finland on Wednesday night – a match that is live on S4C – could prompt more virtual pats on the back over the next few days.

Dan James is set to complete a deadline day move to Leeds from Manchester United after the two clubs agreed a £25m fee. The Wales striker will have a medical today before flying out to Finland with the rest of the Wales squad for the international friendly. Wales then have two World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia, in which James is likely to feature before he joins his new squad at Elland Road.

Rob Page’s prediction that Wales’ trip to the Russian city of Kazan to play Belarus in their World Cup qualifier would be “a nightmare” appears to becoming a reality. As well as the withdrawl of four players through injury – including Aaron Ramsey – the Wales caretaker manager has also been denied three players because of visa problems. The FAW have said in a statement that Ethan Ampadu, Tyler Roberts and Brandon Cooper will all miss Sunday’s game in Russia die to problems getting their visa approved in time.

Gareth Bale has answered questions over his future with Wales by the strength of his comeback at Real Madrid, says Robert Page. Bale will lead Wales into World Cup action, charged by the “positive impact” on his Real return, according to his national manager. The striker was the subject of fierce retirement rumours ahead of Euro 2020 this summer but said after Wales’ round-of-16 defeat to Denmark that he would never end his international career as long as he is playing football.

Wales manager Robert Page has added former Rotherham and Scunthorpe boss Alan Knill to his coaching staff for the rest of their World Cup qualifying campaign. Knill, 56, replaces Arsenal coach Albert Stuivenberg on the backroom team after the Dutchman left the role following Euro 2020. Page said: “I am delighted that Alan is joining us for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Former Cork City goalkeeper Noel Mooney has pledged to make the FAW “one of the best football associations, globally” after being appointed as their new chief executive. Mooney, who played for Limerick, Cork and Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland, is joining from UEFA, where he currently works as head of strategic development. He succeeds Jonathan Ford, who stood down at the end of March after he had been placed on gardening leave in February. He had been in post for 12 years.