Leeds United winger Daniel James has been named in the Cymru squad for the first time this season, having recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of Craig Bellamy’s opening four matches as manager. The 26-year-old returns in a 26-man line-up for Cymru’s final Nations League games, facing Turkey away on 16 November and Iceland at home three days later.
James joins an in-form Rubin Colwill, the Cardiff City midfielder who has been impressive under interim club boss Omer Riza. Colwill, 22, made his World Cup debut for Cymru in 2022 and was a late addition to Bellamy’s initial squad in September. Despite not featuring then, he returns to the senior team amid Cardiff’s recent resurgence.
The squad also includes notable absences. Captain Aaron Ramsey remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Cymru’s 2-1 win against Montenegro in September. Leeds defender Ethan Ampadu and Swansea City’s Ollie Cooper are also unavailable through injuries, although experienced midfielder Joe Allen keeps his spot, having recently come out of international retirement and featured as a substitute against Montenegro last month.
Bellamy has also made a slight adjustment in the goalkeeping department, recalling Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tom King as a back-up option in place of Sheffield United’s Adam Davies. King joins Danny Ward and Karl Darlow in the squad’s goalkeeping roster.
James has shown a strong return to form for Leeds, starting their last two Championship fixtures and scoring in a 3-0 victory over Plymouth. His return bolsters Cymru’s chances, especially with Leeds teammate Joe Rodon set to earn his 50th international cap if he features in both upcoming games.
Meanwhile, Fulham’s Harry Wilson, fresh off his dramatic stoppage-time brace in a 2-1 win over Brentford, is also included. Although Wilson has had limited Premier League appearances this season, he remains a crucial asset for Bellamy as Cymru aim for promotion.
Bellamy, unbeaten in his four matches since taking over as Cymru head coach, has raised the squad’s expectations with his leadership. Following a goalless draw with Turkey in his first game, he has since guided Cymru to back-to-back victories over Montenegro and a 2-2 draw against Iceland. A win in Turkey would place Cymru in a strong position to secure promotion to League A in their final fixture against Iceland in Cardiff.
Despite a potential setback in Turkey, Cymru would still retain a chance for promotion through a play-off route if they finish second in their group. A third-place finish, however, would mean a play-off in March to avoid relegation.
Cymru Squad for Nations League Fixtures:
Goalkeepers: Danny Ward, Karl Darlow, Tom King.
Defenders: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Owen Beck, Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Connor Roberts, Neco Williams.
Midfielders: Jordan James, Rubin Colwill, Josh Sheehan, Joe Allen, Harry Wilson, David Brooks, Daniel James, Sorba Thomas, Wes Burns.
Forwards: Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Nathan Broadhead, Lewis Koumas, Liam Cullen.
