Wales Faces Triple Setback with Wilson, Broadhead, and Darlow Withdrawals

Craig Bellamy’s Nations League plans have been hit hard before a ball has even been kicked.

Wales have lost three players from their squad, with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow all withdrawing ahead of their League A campaign.

Wilson, Leeds’ creative spark and arguably Wales’ most influential attacker in recent years, had been a major doubt with a quad injury and has now been ruled out. Broadhead, the Wrexham forward, was also expected to miss out because of a thigh problem and his absence has now been confirmed.

The third blow comes in goal. First-choice keeper Darlow, who only last week made his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup and was on the bench for their Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday, has also pulled out of the squad.

Bellamy has turned to experience and youth to plug the gaps.

Veteran Leicester City goalkeeper David Cornell comes in, still waiting for his first senior cap. Joining him are uncapped Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor and Reading midfielder Charlie Savage, all drafted in as replacements as Wales scramble to reshape their squad on the eve of a demanding run.

Upcoming Matches

And demanding it is.

Wales open their Nations League campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, a daunting start in hostile surroundings. Then comes a trip to Copenhagen to face Denmark next Sunday, another test of depth and resilience.

After that, the competition comes to Cardiff. Norway visit the Welsh capital on Thursday, 1 October, before Denmark return three days later for a quick-fire rematch.

Key figures are missing. The schedule is unforgiving. Bellamy now has to find out, very quickly, how deep this Wales squad really runs.