Wales 'cannot afford to lose' Wilson, says Bellamy

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency Image caption, Harry Wilson has won 67 caps for Wales, having made his debut aged 16 in 2013
Harry Wilson has won 67 caps for Wales, having made his debut aged 16 in 2013
Craig Bellamy has underlined Harry Wilson's importance to Wales by describing the Fulham attacking midfielder as a player his team cannot afford to lose.

Wilson has been in sparkling form for club and country this season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old has also been outstanding for Wales for a sustained period, with 12 of his 17 career international goals coming in the past three years.

Wilson gave Bellamy a scare when he injured his ankle playing for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month - but returned to action last weekend and declared himself fit for Wales.

Bellamy's side face Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday 26 March, with the winners hosting Italy or Northern Ireland in the final five days later.

"He [Wilson] is definitely one of those players," said the Wales head coach.

"We do have a big squad and we keep trying to improve that, and we have to because the reality is the biggest squads stand a better chance to qualify.

"But we're still fragile.

There's still one or two players we can't afford to lose.

I'd like us to get out of that situation, and Harry's definitely turned into one of those players.

"You look at our goals, you look at our assists, he's played a huge part in that department.

When he hasn't played, you can see the difference."
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Wilson's return to fitness was particularly timely for Wales , who are without Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore and centre-back Chris Mepham – on loan at West Bromwich Albion from Bournemouth – for these play-offs because of injury.

Bellamy hopes other players can step up to fill the void should Wilson ever be unavailable, as the Fulham man has done since Gareth Bale – Wales' greatest player of all time, by common consensus – retired in 2023.

"We haven't had anyone to quite move into that role.

I do believe that's a matter of time," said Bellamy.

"But at this present moment, especially the form he's been in this season, we just hope he's fit."