Dan James is in line to make his Wales return after missing the last two games through injury, with Leeds United team-mate Joe Rodon also named in the squad
Jon Doel and James Smailes
12:11, 05 Nov 2025
Daniel James of Wales and Leeds United
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Daniel James of Wales and Leeds United(Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Leeds United's Dan James has been selected for the Wales squad for the crucial final World Cup qualifiers after proving his fitness with a return to the Leeds United team of late.
The star player missed last month's losses to England and Belgium but is now part of a nearly full-strength team announced by Craig Bellamy. James spent six weeks on the sidelines but returned off the bench in the 2-0 defeat at Burnley. Following a three-minute cameo in the win over West Ham, he again featured off the bench last time out as Leeds were beaten at Brighton, but it's enough for Bellamy to turn to the player for two huge games.
He will now head away with Wales where he will likely play both matches, in what is a crunch period for the team. 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.
Bellamy will be buoyed by the improving performances of some of his players, including Brennan Johnson, who scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham on Tuesday night.
Harry Wilson is also back in scoring form at Fulham, while Kieffer Moore netted a hat-trick for Wrexham against Coventry City in his most recent game. Meanwhile, Joe Rodon has been in great form for Leeds, and he is joined by captain Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow in winning selection once again.
Wales currently hold the third position in Group J, trailing four points behind leaders Belgium and three behind North Macedonia. The prospect of finishing at the top seems unlikely following last month's results, but the fight for second place is expected to be a close one.
Despite having a game in hand on North Macedonia, Wales are six goals behind in terms of goal difference. If they fail to makeup this deficit against Liechtenstein, they must secure a win in their final match to clinch second place.
However, thanks to their performance in the Nations League earlier this year, Wales are almost guaranteed a play-off spot. But if they do qualify for the knockouts via this route, they will be among the lowest seeds and face a more challenging path to the World Cup.
To put it into perspective, if they finish second based on current standings, they would be named as a top seed and host a match against one of the bottom seeds. This could potentially mean a play-off semi-final against Moldova.
If they have to rely on the Nations League safety net, they could end up playing away against Italy.
The full Wales squad: 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).
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