Football
Wales Nations League Squad Announced As Veteran Joe Allen Comes Out Of Retirement
Cai is a news and features writer that specialises in football, but has experience covering a variety of other sports, including darts, basketball, American football, MMA, boxing and more. He holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby, and worked with Nottingham Forest FC and Burton Albion FC throughout his studies. Cai also has experience working in social media with the Football Association of Wales, where he worked on a freelance basis, and has also been an accredited writer in the JD Cymru Premier for both Y Clwb Pêl-Droed and welshfootie since the 2019/20 season.
Get to know Cai Parry betterPublished02 Oct 2024
Craig Bellamy has named his latest Wales squad for October’s Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Montenegro, and Swansea midfielder Joe Allen has been included after coming out of international retirement.
After picking up four points from a possible six with a draw against Turkey and a win away at Montenegro in Nations League action last month, Craig Bellamy has made several enforced changes to his latest Wales squad ahead of October’s internationals.
One of those changes is the return of Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen, who has been convinced by Bellamy to come out of international retirement. The 34-year-old called time his Wales playing career following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he now has the opportunity to add to his 74 caps and two goals.
There are also returns for the previously injured Rhys Norrington-Davies, David Brooks, Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead.
Dragons captain Aaron Ramsey and Leeds United defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadu have both been ruled out, with the pair set for lengthy spells on the sidelines for the remainder of the calendar year.
Ramsey picked up a hamstring injury against Montenegro in Nikšić last month, while Ampadu is suffering with a knee ligament issue after being forced off in the 3-0 win over Coventry at the weekend.
A vital cog in Wales’ system, Leeds boss Daniel Farke has confirmed that the former Chelsea man does not require surgery but faces around 10 weeks on the treatment table before he is able to return to first-team training.
Also missing out through injury is Daniel James, who misses a second successive international camp having been ruled out with a hamstring injury since late-August.
Full Wales Squad For October Nations League Fixtures
Goalkeepers:
- Danny Ward (Leicester City)
- Adam Davies (Sheffield United)
- Karl Darlow (Leeds United)
Defenders:
- Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United)
- Owen Beck (Blackburn Rovers – on loan from Liverpool)
- Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Ben Cabango (Swansea City)
- Joe Rodon (Leeds United)
- Chris Mepham (Sunderland – on loan from Bournemouth)
- Connor Roberts (Burnley)
- Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders:
- Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers)
- Jordan James (Stade Rennais)
- Ollie Cooper (Swansea City)
- Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town)
- David Brooks (Bournemouth)
- Sorba Thomas (Nantes – on loan from Huddersfield Town)
- Wes Burns (Ipswich Town)
- Joe Allen (Swansea City)
Forwards:
- Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Harry Wilson (Fulham)
- Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United)
- Mark Harris (Oxford United)
- Lewis Koumas (Stoke City – on loan from Liverpool)
- Liam Cullen (Swansea City)