Leeds United star James is back after injury, as Craig Bellamy names a strong-looking squad for the final World Cup qualifiers
Daniel James of Wales and Leeds United
Daniel James of Wales and Leeds United(Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
View Image
Dan James has been named in the Wales squad for the decisive final World Cup qualifiers. The Leeds United star has been out since suffering an ankle injury in September and missed last month's defeats to England and Belgium.
He is part of a near full-strength squad named by Craig Bellamy, which includes Ruibin Colwill after his impressive form for Cardiff City. Colwill is one of four Bluebirds players called up, alongside brother Joel, Ronan Kpakio and defender Dylan Lawlor. Team-mate Isaak Davies, however, misses out after being a late addition to the previous squad.
Captain Ben Davies is fit to be included despite not playing since suffering an injury against the Belgians on his 100th cap.
Wales play Liechtenstein away a week on Saturday before the last match against North Macedonia in Cardiff three days later. Two wins will at least secure a World Cup play-off spot.
David Brooks' late goal snatched a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture against North Macedonia back in March.
Bellamy will be encouraged by the improving form of some of his players, with Brennan Johnson scoring his first Champions League goal for Tottenham on Tuesday night, Harry Wilson back in goal-scoring form at Fulham and Kieffer Moore bagging a hat-trick for Wrexham against Coventry City in his last appearance.
Wales currently sit third in Group J, four points behind leaders Belgium and three adrift of North Macedonia. Finishing top now seems beyond them after results last month but the battle for second promises to be tight.
Wales have a game in hand on North Macedonia but are six goals worse off in terms of goal difference. If they can't overturn that against Liechtenstein then they have to win the final match to finish second.
Wales are all but certain of a play-off place, though, thanks to their Nations League results earlier in the year. However, if they do make the knockouts through that back door route they will be among the lowest seeds and face a much tougher route to the World Cup.
To give some context, based on current standings a second-paced finish would see them named as a top seed and they would play one of the bottom seeds at home. That could look like a play-off semi-final against Moldova, for example.
If they need the Nations League back-stop, they could find themselves drawn away to Italy.
Wales squad in full: Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United), Tom KING (Everton), Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Chris MEPHAM (West Bromwich Albion), Ben CABANGO (Swansea), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Dylan LAWLOR (Cardiff City), Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Ronan KPAKIO (Cardiff City)
Ethan AMPADU (Leeds United), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Leicester City, on loan from Stade Rennais), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Joel COLWILL (Cardiff City)
Harry WILSON (Fulham), Nathan BROADHEAD (Wrexham), Rubin COLWILL (Cardiff City), Sorba THOMAS (Stoke City), Lewis KOUMAS (Birmingham City- On loan from Liverpool), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Kieffer MOORE (Wrexham), Brennan JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), David BROOKS (Bournemouth), Dan JAMES (Leeds United).