Wales Faces Triple Setback with Withdrawals of Wilson, Broadhead, and Darlow
Craig Bellamy’s first Nations League A campaign has been hit hard before a ball is kicked.
Wales have lost three players in one swoop, with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow all withdrawing from the squad ahead of a brutal run of fixtures against Portugal, Denmark and Norway.
Wilson, the creative heartbeat of this side in recent years and now at Leeds, had been a major doubt with a quad problem and has not recovered in time. Broadhead, the Wrexham forward who had been pushing for a more prominent role, also misses out as expected because of a thigh issue.
Then came the surprise. Darlow, Bellamy’s first-choice goalkeeper, has pulled out despite a significant week in his club career, making his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup and then taking his place on the bench for the Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday.
The withdrawals have forced a reshuffle and opened the door for fresh faces.
- Leicester City veteran David Cornell is drafted in to bolster the goalkeeping department
- Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor and Reading midfielder Charlie Savage also receive call-ups
All three are uncapped, all three now thrown straight into the deep end of top-tier Nations League football.
It is a demanding schedule. Wales open away to Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, a daunting start against one of Europe’s heavyweights. Then comes Denmark in Copenhagen next Sunday, another clash with a seasoned tournament side.
After that, the attention turns home. Norway visit Cardiff on Thursday, 1 October, before Denmark return to the Welsh capital three days later to complete a punishing early block of fixtures.
Key men are missing. New names are in. Bellamy’s plans have been jolted before kick-off — now we find out how quickly this Wales side can adapt under pressure at the highest level.
