Bellamy names keeper Darlow in first Wales squad

New head coach Craig Bellamy has named Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow in his first Wales squad, while there are recalls for Ollie Cooper, Sorba Thomas and Mark Harris.

England-born former Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United player Darlow, 33, is included as injured veteran stopper Wayne Hennessey - who is currently without a club - and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tom King miss out.

Midfielder Joe Morrell, another player without a club, is not in the 24-man squad, while Cardiff City’s Rubin Colwill is among a number of younger players not included having been involved in summer friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia under former boss Rob Page.

Bellamy leads Wales for the first time in Nations League games against Turkey in Cardiff on Friday, 6 September and in Montenegro three days later, having been named successor to Page in July.

Darlow will compete with Leicester City's Danny Ward – who played his first club game in 17 months on Tuesday – and Sheffield United's Adam Davies for the goalkeeping position in Bellamy’s Wales team.

Currently second choice to Islian Meslier at Leeds, Darlow turned down the chance to represent Wales in 2013 and 2018.

He is the grandson of Ken Leek, who was a member of Wales’ 1958 World Cup squad.

Darlow is one of two uncapped players called up by Bellamy alongside left-back Owen Beck, who joined Blackburn Rovers on loan from Liverpool this week.

Swansea City midfielder Cooper and striker Harris, who has made a fine start to the Championship season with promoted Oxford United, are called up for the first time in more than a year.

Winger Thomas also returns having started 2024-25 positively with Nantes after joining the French top-flight side on loan from Huddersfield.

Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas retains his place having impressed in the opening weeks of a season-long loan at Stoke City, but Colwill, Fin Stevens, Joe Low, Charlie Crew, Charlie Savage and Matt Baker all drop out having been involved in Page’s final squad in June.

They are likely to feature for Wales Under-21s against Iceland on 10 September, with Matty Jones due to name his squad on Thursday.

Ipswich Town pair Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead are absent for Turkey and Montenegro through injury, as is Bournemouth’s David Brooks.

Coventry City left-back Jay Dasilva misses out despite winning his first Wales caps in the summer, with the likes of Dylan Levitt and Tom Bradshaw also overlooked.

Wales: Danny Ward, Adam Davies, Karl Darlow, Ben Davies, Owen Beck, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts, Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Aaron Ramsey, Ollie Cooper, Sorba Thomas, Kieffer Moore, Lewis Koumas, Brennan Johnson, Harry Wilson, Daniel James, Mark Harris, Liam Cullen, Rabbi Matondo