The Wales manager has been extremely happy with the way the striker has developed at Anfield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Lewis Koumas of Liverpool and Declan Rice of Arsenal compete for the ball during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool and Wales striker Lewis Koumas (left) in action against Arsenal (Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Wales boss Craig Bellamy has lavished praise on Liverpool for their handling of Lewis Koumas following his recent breakthrough for club and country.
After showing some promise for Wales, Koumas has found himself part of Adoni Iraola's plans at Anfield, having made seven appearances for the Reds this season, including a start against Manchester City.
He's also made two starts in the club's Champions League campaign, and appears to be firmly in the Spaniard's thinking this season.
The forward's game-time could well be tempered over the coming weeks as Liverpool welcome back several attacking players from injury, but the Wales boss is adamant the 21-year-old is destined for big things, and appears happy with how his development is being handled on Merseyside.
"We saw moments in the summer with us when we brought him in, and we've seen moments that he's grown again, which you have to," he said.
"We always felt Koumas has all the attributes you need to be at a top level.
"He obviously hit the ground running in pre-season. The game-time he's had has been good and it's only going to help us.
"From the period of when he played for us to going back to Liverpool and now leading into these, he's had good game-time.
"But I have to be honest, the type of forward he is, the intensity he plays at. I adore it.
"If you could send me a forward, he's my forward. He's the type of player I adore.
"He dips in, dips out and looks to stretch. Willing to get on the ball on any occasion, and I honestly feel like Liverpool are handling him incredibly well."
Meanwhile, Bellamy is poised to welcome back influential forward Harry Wilson, who's back in the squad following his return from injury.
Wilson's missed the last camp due to injury, and hasn't quite managed to catch fire since his move to Leeds United.
However, Bellamy believes the upcoming international break could provide the platform on which to kickstart his season.
"Maybe. It worked last time because when we first came in, he wasn't playing at Fulham. He wasn't a regular starter then, and he kick-started," he added.
"If you watch when he came back from our international games then, he started playing for Fulham. He dipped a little bit, then he went back in, and then the second year, completely different.
"He had a huge impact.
"But if you look at it for a lot of our players at this present moment, even if I look at our front five, the ones we were triggering with, none of them were starting at their clubs. None of them.
"It helps if you're playing week in, week out. But it's not my business, I'm not that type of coach to say you need to play week in, week out.
"It's between you and your club. I always say work harder, get yourself in the team. If you've got enough you're getting the team. Now you've got to work hard, don't sulk.
"The one thing with Harry, if he's not playing, he's a real example to other players in that you train, you work hard.
"So with Harry I have no issues that he won't be ready to have a big impact and hopefully he does."