The January transfer window is upon us. For those players on the fringes of selection for Wales ahead of this summer’s delayed Euro finals – or for long-shot outsiders aiming to come with a late run on the rails – the opportunity for a club move could prove vital. Ross Tyson looks at five players who might benefit from a bit of window shopping. In most international breaks, Wales have named more than the 23 players they will be allocated at this summer‘s European Championships. That means there will be a number of difficult decisions the management team must make when deciding on their final squad.

Joe Allen has given Wales fans some Christmas cheer by coming through his comeback match for Stoke City. The Wales midfielder – who hopes to force his way back into Ryan Giggs’ squad in time for the delayed European Championship finals in 2021 – stepped up his return to fitness by completing 75 minutes for Stoke’s Under-23s in his first competitive appearance for over nine months. Allen ruptured an Achilles tendon against Hull on March 7 and would have missed Euro 2020 but for the tournament being delayed 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Daniel James has earned rich praise from Manchester United legend Roy Keane after the Wales winger’s role in his club’s 6-2 thrashing of Leeds. James scored the fifth goal of United’s half dozen, against the club he was linked with ahead of the January transfer window. James has endured a difficult year since his move from Swansea City to Old Trafford, but his pace caused Leeds so much anxiety that talk of him being allowed to leave United now they are a looming Premier League title threat seems unrealistic.

Midway through the first half at the Liberty Stadium yesterday, Clarke Odour’s corner found Mads Andersen just outside the Swansea six yard box. Andersen took a touch, shaped to fire at goal, only to then have the ball nicked away from him by the sliding Ben Cabango. It turned out to be an understated moment. It was a challenge that Cabango had to get right or Barnsley would have almost certainly levelled, or at least had an opportunity to do so from the penalty spot.

Joe Allen will give Wales a major boost when he returns to action for Stoke City’s Under-23s on Monday. The 30-year-old midfielder has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon in the Potters 5-1 hammering of Hull City on March 7.

Robert Page believes World Cup rivals Belgium will hold “more respect” for Wales after recent meetings between the two nations. Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team, were the eye-catching side drawn alongside Wales, the Czech Republic, Belarus and Estonia in Group E of the 2022 World Cup qualifying draw on Monday. But Belgium have failed to beat Wales in four meetings since October 2013.

Wales’ major sporting bodies have written to the Welsh Government urging it to allow fans back into stadiums and prevent the “real risk of bankruptcy for our sports”. The letter to Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford asks him to reconsider the stance during the Covid-19 pandemic that supporters will not be allowed to return to sport soon. Some sports fans in England have been allowed to return to stadiums during the last week, with Tier 1 capacities set at a maximum of 4,000 and Tier 2 areas half of that.

Connor Roberts intends to extend his scoring streak to keep Swansea City among the leaders in the Championship promotion race. The Swans’ 2-0 win over Luton at the weekend lifted them back to fourth in the table, two points behind leaders Norwich. The Wales full-back scored his second goal in three games and Andre Ayew grabbed his ninth of the season to lift the Swans back into the play-off spots.

Caretaker manager Rob Page will conduct Wales’ World Cup draw media duties with uncertainty remaining over the long term future of Ryan Giggs. Page was in interim charge last month as Wales beat the Republic of Ireland and Finland to secure promotion to the top tier of the Nations League and confirm their place in Pot 2 of Monday’s World Cup qualifying draw in Switzerland. Giggs was absent for Wales’ November games after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend at his Manchester home on November 1.

By Paul Jones Kieffer Moore is fast becoming the playground bully of the Championship, according to his Cardiff City manager Neil Harris. The Bluebirds boss hailed striker Moore after his brace ended the club’s wait for back-to-back Championship victories. The Wales international now has four goals in his last four matches after guiding his side […]

Jayne Ludlow said Wales are getting closer to qualifying for a major finals after their UEFA Women’s Euro2022 heartache was confirmed. Natasha Harding, Rachel Rowe and Jess Fishlock all struck in an emphatic 3-0 victory over Belarus in their final qualifying game at Newport’s Rodney Parade.

Jess Fishlock reckons Wales’ next generation of footballers can be the best yet – and she wants to be part of it. The 33-year-old is set to win her 120th cap when Wales end their UEFA Women’s Euro2022 qualifying campaign against Belarus at Newport’s Rodney Parade on Tuesday (KO 7.10pm).