Harry Wilson is a major doubt for the start of Wales’ Nations League campaign as Craig Bellamy’s side return to League A. The Leeds United forward had been named in Bellamy’s squad for the September and October fixtures against Portugal, Denmark and Norway.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke confirmed on Friday that Wilson, 29, has suffered a muscle injury to his quadriceps. The problem will rule him out of Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace. “Harry Wilson is out of this game, a quad injury, he reported some problems after the last game and also during this training week,” Farke said.
Farke added that Wilson will “probably miss the Welsh games”, describing it as “definitely not good news for him and also not for the Welsh team”. The 69-cap forward has scored 17 goals for his country, and the latest injury is a major blow for Bellamy given Wilson’s outstanding international form over the past 12 months. While Wales may want to do their own assessment, the news already represents a major blow for Bellamy.
Bellamy is already without key defender Joe Rodon, Wilson’s team-mate at Elland Road, as well as Cardiff City defensive pair Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio. Two more Cardiff players, forwards Isaak Davies and Rubin Colwill, are also unavailable for selection because of injury, along with Wrexham attacker Nathan Broadhead.
Wales travel to face Portugal on 24 September in the first of four fixtures in this newly extended international break. They then travel to Copenhagen to take on a Denmark side ranked 21st in the world. Norway, who were World Cup quarter-finalists, then visit Cardiff on 1 October before the return home game against Denmark on 4 October, with the home match against Norway sandwiched by the two games with Denmark. Wales are 38th in the world rankings, their lowest position since August 2014.