CYMRU head coach Craig Bellamy remains unconcerned about the lack of game time among his Premier League players as he prepares for the upcoming Nations League double-header. His squad will face Iceland away on 11 October, followed by a home match against Montenegro at Cardiff City Stadium three days later.
Bellamy named a 25-man squad last week, which includes nine Premier League players. However, only Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson and Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams have been regular starters for their clubs this season. Despite this, Bellamy is not worried about the limited minutes for some of his Premier League-based players, viewing it as a potential advantage in terms of freshness and reduced fatigue.
“They [the Premier League players] are fresh,” Bellamy explained. He also highlighted the rigours of the Championship, where most of his squad play. “The Championship is the sixth most intense league in the world… it even surpasses international football in terms of intensity. The football here, especially at the top two levels, really prepares you well for international competition.”
Bellamy further noted the demanding nature of the Championship, a league he is very familiar with from his own experience: “If you’re a highly successful player, the games come thick and fast, but that just comes with success… it means you’re doing your craft really well. The Championship, as we’ve all known, is relentless in its intensity and the number of games.”
One player of interest is Fulham winger Harry Wilson, who scored a stunning goal in Cymru’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Montenegro last month. However, Wilson has only featured for 36 minutes in the Premier League this season, coming off the bench three times. He did start both of Fulham’s EFL Cup matches, but he was an unused substitute in the recent game against Manchester City and hasn’t played since 17 September.
When asked about Wilson’s limited game time, Bellamy acknowledged the situation but remained confident in the player’s form for Cymru. “Would you want him playing week in, week out? Of course you would,” he said. “But I can only go off what I’ve seen with Harry in the last two games – the draw against Turkey and the win over Montenegro. He was brilliant, exceptional even.”
Bellamy also pointed out a positive side to players not being overworked at their clubs. “It means I don’t have to sit there at the weekend, waiting for the physio to call and tell me someone’s picked up an injury. So, in that sense, it’s a relief – no serious concerns.”
While he admits he’d prefer all of his players to be getting more regular game time, Bellamy is reassured by the high level of training players receive, even when they’re not featuring in matches. “The work they do at their clubs, for players who aren’t playing regularly, is really high level. They come to us in good condition as well.”
Bellamy’s squad will now focus on continuing their strong Nations League campaign as they look to build on last month’s success against Montenegro.
