CRAIG BELLAMY, the new manager of the Cymru national football team, has expressed his desire for Joe Allen to come out of international retirement. During a recent visit to Swansea’s training ground, Bellamy reached out to the 34-year-old midfielder, who ended his international career in February 2023 after earning 74 caps for his country.
Sources from SunSport suggest that while Allen has not completely ruled out a return to international football, he is focused on ensuring his fitness for club commitments before making any decisions. Injuries played a significant role in his retirement, but with the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico on the horizon, Bellamy is exploring all possibilities to strengthen his squad.
Allen played a crucial role in helping Cymru qualify for three major tournaments, with the World Cup in Qatar 2022 marking his final appearance for the national team. Bellamy, who succeeded Robert Page in July under a four-year contract, holds Allen in high regard, having shared the pitch with him for Cymru and at the 2012 Olympics with Great Britain.
In addition to Allen, Bellamy is also considering Rangers’ Tom Lawrence for a potential call-up as he looks to infuse more experience into his youthful squad. Cymru is likely to be without captain Aaron Ramsey for their upcoming Nations League matches due to a hamstring injury, making Allen’s experience particularly appealing.
Despite limited appearances this season, with four substitute outings for Swansea, Allen’s professionalism and attitude have not gone unnoticed. Bellamy is set to announce his squad next Wednesday for the Nations League fixtures against Iceland on October 11 and Montenegro in Cardiff three days later.
Bellamy aims to build on the positive momentum from his initial matches, which included an impressive goalless draw with Turkey and a 2-1 victory over Montenegro. Further discussions with both Allen and Lawrence are anticipated, with Lawrence keen to return to the international stage after last playing for Cymru in a friendly against Mexico in 2021.
Last week, Lawrence shared, “I spoke to the manager before the international break this month. We’ll have another chat and see where we’re at. But there’s no pressure on it, it’s pretty open on both sides. I’m not going to say I should be in this or be in that. It was open to go there last time, but we felt it was right with the injuries I’ve had in the past just to keep going and make sure I get good training here. We’ll have another chat before the next international break, but there’s no pressure on either side.”
As Bellamy prepares for the World Cup qualifying campaign starting next March, he remains focused on nurturing a balanced and competitive squad for the challenges ahead.
