Craig Bellamy has handed Cian Ashford his first Wales call-up, a selection that fits the broader mood around this squad: fresh faces are being rewarded, but the standards remain high. Wales return to the top flight of the Nations League in League A with four fixtures in an extended international break, and Bellamy has named a 28-man squad with clarity about the challenge ahead.
That context matters. Wales have gone four games without a win, and Bellamy’s staff has also recently changed after Piet Cremers and James Rowberry left their roles. In other words, this is not just a squad announcement. It is a reminder that Wales are trying to reset quickly while still competing against stronger opposition.
A first senior call-up for Ashford is the headline moment, but there are also absences that will shape how Wales approach the matches. Ben Davies is unavailable after suffering a serious ankle injury with Tottenham in January, while Dylan Lawlor is also out through injury. Wales will need to cope without that defensive experience across the campaign.
A first chance for Cian Ashford
Bellamy’s decision to include Ashford is the clearest sign yet that form at Cardiff City has been noticed. The forward has been selected for the first time, and that is significant in a squad where competition for places is already strong. For a young player, this is the kind of call-up that can change perception quickly.
It also fits a familiar pattern in international football: when a manager is searching for energy, confidence and reliability, he often turns to players who have shown they can handle responsibility at club level. Wales have not had much room for sentiment in recent months, so Ashford’s inclusion says something about how Bellamy sees the balance of this group.
That balance is especially important because Wales will face Portugal, Denmark and Norway in League A, with the trip to face Portugal scheduled for 24 September. These are fixtures that will punish errors. Wales are returning to a level where concentration, structure and discipline matter from the first minute to the last.
Injury issues and the wider challenge
The absence of Ben Davies is a major one. He is a 78-cap defender and a player Wales have leaned on for years, so losing him removes not only quality but familiarity. Lawlor’s injury adds another problem at the back, leaving Bellamy with less certainty than he would have wanted going into four demanding games.
There are some familiar attacking and midfield options in the squad, including Harry Wilson, Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey, Mark Harris and Liam Cullen. But the bigger picture is that Wales have to rediscover a winning habit. They last beat a side in the top 20 of the world rankings in October 2023, when they defeated Croatia 2-1, and since then the margin for error has only narrowed.
That is why this squad feels important beyond the headline call-up. Bellamy is trying to build something that can survive the step up in level. Ashford gets the opportunity, the injured defenders miss out, and Wales now have to show they can turn a promising selection into results.
For Bellamy, the next test comes quickly. Portugal away will tell us plenty, and the matches against Denmark and Norway will show whether Wales can compete properly in League A. The squad has enough quality to make things interesting, but it will need more than that if it is to get the campaign moving.
