Wales have been dealt a triple blow ahead of their Nations League A campaign, with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow all withdrawing from Craig Bellamy’s squad.
Wilson, the Leeds attacking midfielder who has been Wales’ most influential player in recent times, had already been a doubt because of a quad problem. Wrexham forward Broadhead had been expected to miss out with a thigh issue. Darlow’s withdrawal is a further setback given his standing as first-choice goalkeeper, and comes despite a notable week at club level in which he made his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup and was named on the bench for the Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday.
The absentees add to a growing list of unavailable players for Bellamy. Wales were already without key defenders Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, while Cardiff City pair Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies are also unavailable for the fixtures ahead.
Three replacements have been called up, all of them uncapped. Goalkeeper David Cornell, 35, joined Leicester City on a one-year deal last Friday, having been a free agent since leaving Preston North End in the summer. A former Wales Under-21 international born in Swansea, he came through Swansea City’s academy and has made more than 200 senior club appearances across a string of clubs.
Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor, another former Wales Under-21 player, has scored five goals for his club so far this season. The Peterborough-born 23-year-old impressed on loan at Wigan Athletic in the second half of last season, having previously caught the eye at Lincoln City and Colchester United. Reading midfielder Charlie Savage, son of former Wales midfielder Robbie, has made more than 150 appearances for the Royals since joining from Manchester United in 2023. The 23-year-old made his senior international debut in the friendly win over Gibraltar in October 2023 and won a second cap the following year.
Wales open their Group A4 campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, before travelling to Copenhagen to meet Denmark the following Sunday. They then host Norway in Cardiff on Thursday, 1 October, with Denmark visiting the Welsh capital three days later.