Rubin Colwill (L) and Daniel James (C) have been called up by Craig Bellamy(Image: PA Wire)

Craig Bellamy names Wales squad as Leeds United and Cardiff City stars return

05 Nov 2024, 10:00 by Glen Williams · Wales Online

Craig Bellamy has announced his squad for Wales' games against Turkey and Iceland, with Leeds United's Daniel James returning and Rubin Colwill earning a deserved call-up.

Bellamy is undefeated in four games as head coach and will want to take that momentum into this month's matches. Wales sit second behind Turkey, their opponents a week on Saturday out in Kayseri, after two wins and two draws in their opening games.

And they will be boosted by the return of James, who has been named in a Bellamy squad for the first time following months of injury troubles so far this season. But he looks in good form coming back into camp, fresh off the back of a stunning strike for Leeds in the win over Plymouth Argyle at the weekend.

Similarly, Rubin Colwill is coming into camp in arguably the form of his life. Colwill hadn't been named in either of Bellamy's first two squads, although he was later called up in September owing to injuries, with the head coach, and under-21s boss Matty Jones, saying they needed to see more from him, particularly out of possession. He endured a frustrating October camp after being named in the under-21s but was ineligible to play in their crucial Euro qualifier with Czechia owing to an admin error, which you can read about here.

The 22-year-old has been central to his club's upturn in form throughout October and the start of November and has been one of the standout players in the Championship. Goalkeeper Tom King also returns to the national team setup.

Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey misses out through injury again, so, too does James's Leeds clubmate Ethan Ampadu, who was also injured for the October matches. Ollie Cooper is also out for months after suffering a stress fracture in his foot, which you can read more about here, and so he misses out, too.

Two crucial final matches await Wales. If they win both it would see them top the group and they will gain promotion to League A for the next UEFA Nations League campaign. If they finish second they will enter into a two-legged play-off with a League A team in March for a chance to earn promotion. The draw for that will take place on Friday, November 22.

Wales play Turkey in Kayseri on Saturday, November 16 before welcoming Iceland to Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, November 19.

Wales squad in full

Goalkeepers: Danny Ward (Leicester City), Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Tom King (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Defenders: Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Owen Beck (Blackburn Rovers - On loan from Liverpool), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Chris Mepham (Sunderland - On loan from Bournemouth), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)

Midfielders: Jordan James (Stade Rennais), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Daniel James (Leeds United), Sorba Thomas (Nantes- On loan from Huddersfield Town), Wes Burns (Ipswich Town)

Forwards: Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town), Lewis Koumas (Stoke City- On loan from Liverpool), Liam Cullen (Swansea City)