Craig Bellamy has to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland inside eight days without his first-choice centre-back. Joe Rodon picked up a hamstring injury in Leeds United's third game of the season and is out of Wales' return to League A of the Nations League.
His usual partner, Dylan Lawlor, is also missing from the 28-man squad. Lawlor has not played at all this season because of a knee problem. Ronan Kpakio, another Cardiff defender, is out too. That is three defenders gone before a single ball is kicked against Portugal.
Cian Ashford gets the call
The new name is a 21-year-old Cardiff City forward. Cian Ashford has started all nine of Cardiff's games this season and scored twice, and Bellamy has decided that is enough. He joins an attacking group that already includes Liverpool's Lewis Koumas, with Isaak Davies and Rubin Colwill both unavailable through injury.
There is no place for Kai Andrews, despite the midfielder making a strong start on loan at Aaron Ramsey's Oxford United from Coventry City. That one may not stay settled for long.
Familiar faces back, one after two years away
Harry Wilson and Jordan James both return having missed June's friendlies with Ghana and Romania through injury, as does Swansea's Ben Cabango. Mark Harris and Liam Cullen are recalled. So is Wes Burns, now at Leicester City, who has ten caps and has not played for Wales since 2024.
Ben Davies keeps the armband. The 33-year-old was named in the summer squad without featuring, having been out since a serious ankle injury at Tottenham in January, but he is playing club football again and is in line for his first international appearance since winning his 100th cap in October 2025.
A hard month, and the rankings say so
Wales are 38th in the world, their lowest placing since August 2014. They have not beaten a top-20 side since Croatia in October 2023, and under Bellamy they have yet to beat anyone ranked above them. Four games without a win takes them into this.
The fixtures do not ease them in. Portugal away on 24 September, the holders, now managed by Ronaldo's old Saudi Pro League boss Jorge Jesus. Denmark in Copenhagen three days later. Then World Cup quarter-finalists Norway in Cardiff on 1 October, with Denmark again on 4 October.
Bellamy is doing it with a rebuilt staff, too. Number two Piet Cremers has gone to a job in Belgium and James Rowberry is now assistant manager at Stoke City. Ashley Williams and Alan Sheehan come in. And all of this follows a summer in which Bellamy himself came close to leaving for Burnley, and a March play-off shoot-out defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina that cost Wales a World Cup place.
Wales squad in full
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Manchester United), Danny Ward (Wrexham), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Jay DaSilva (Coventry City), Jayden Lienou (Leeds United), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Connor Roberts (Burnley).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan James (Wolverhampton Wanderers, on loan from Stade Rennais), Liam Cullen (Leicester City), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Harry Wilson (Leeds United), Sorba Thomas (Hull City), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Cameron Congreve (KVC Westerlo), Wes Burns (Leicester City).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Brennan Johnson (Everton), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Lewis Koumas (Liverpool), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Dan James (Leeds United), Cian Ashford (Cardiff City).
Fixtures: Portugal v Wales, Estadio Jose Alvalade, 24 September (19:45 BST). Denmark v Wales, Parken Stadium, 27 September (18:00). Wales v Norway, Cardiff City Stadium, 1 October (19:45). Wales v Denmark, Cardiff City Stadium, 4 October (19:45).
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