Wilson, Darlow and Broadhead out of Wales squad

Image source, FAWImage caption,

Harry Wilson (left), Nathan Broadhead (centre) and Karl Darlow (right) are a further will all be absent as Wales look to cope with the step up to League A of the Nations League

• Published4 hours ago

Wales have suffered a triple blow before their Nations League A campaign with Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow pulling out of Craig Bellamy’s squad.

Leeds attacking midfielder Wilson – Wales’ most influential player in recent times – had been a doubt with a quad problem while Wrexham forward Broadhead was expected to miss out due to a thigh issue.

First-choice goalkeeper Darlow has also withdrawn despite making his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup last week and being on the bench for the Red Devils’ Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday.

Wales have called up veteran Leicester City keeper David Cornell and Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor – both of whom are uncapped – as well as Reading midfielder Charlie Savage as replacements.

Bellamy’s team face Portugal in their Nations League opener in Lisbon on Thursday before they meet Denmark in Copenhagen next Sunday.

They then take on Norway in Cardiff on Thursday, 1 October before the Danes visit the Welsh capital three days later.

Portugal v Wales

Nations League Group A4

Thursday, 24 September, 19:45 BST

Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon

Watch on iPlayerListen on Sounds

Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.

Wales were already without key defenders Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, while Cardiff City duo Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies are also unavailable.

Cornell, 35, joined Leicester on a one-year deal last Friday having been a free agent after leaving Preston North End in the summer.

The former Wales Under-21 international, from Swansea, has made more than 200 senior club appearances having played for a string of clubs since coming through Swansea City’s academy.

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Taylor, another former Wales Under-21 player, has scored five goals for Huddersfield so far this season.

The Peterborough-born 23-year-old shone while on loan at Wigan Athletic in the second half of the last campaign having previously impressed at Lincoln City and Colchester United.

Savage, the son of former Wales midfielder Robbie, is a regular at Reading, where he has made more than 150 appearances since joining from Manchester United in 2023.

The 23-year-old made his senior international debut in the friendly win over Gibraltar in October 2023 and won a second cap the following year.