Five things Wales learned as Bellamy remains unbeaten

There was a second coming, a nod to a number two, and a Gareth Bale-matching third goal in three games for Harry Wilson.

All in all, it added up to a decent night’s return for Wales and Craig Bellamy as the Nations League win over Montenegro continued his unbeaten start.

It is now four without defeat under the new head coach and the chance of promotion to League A is in Welsh hands going into the final two fixtures.

Having been without a number of key players – including captain Aaron Ramsey and in-form frontman Brennan Johnson – Bellamy claimed making the most of his squad will boost hopes of returning to a major finals.

But what else did the Wales boss learn from his latest game in charge?

Making seven changes from Friday's 2-2 draw in Iceland, Bellamy claimed his rotation was all to do with being able to call upon as many players as possible in readiness to reach the World Cup.

It included turning to a player whose last international appearance came on that very stage.

It has been nigh-on two years since Joe Allen wore a red shirt, tempted out of retirement by Bellamy and straight back into the hearts of Wales fans.

The standing ovation for his 59th minute introduction off the bench might have had a testimonial feel, but – back in the number seven shirt he excelled in on the international pitch – the 34-year-old wasted little time in showing there is more than nostalgia behind his recall.

“I thought it was unlikely,” Allen said of whether he thought he would return after standing aside in February 2023.

“I don’t think it’s something you can ever 100% rule out, but when I spoke to Craig Bellamy, I was pretty easily convinced to come back to the setup.

“I’m really grateful to him for giving me the opportunity and it’s up to me now to prove that I’ve still got value and to help this group.”

Which is exactly what he has done in his little time back, impressing with his influence around the camp while his standards at training were enough for usually hard-to-please Bellamy to call him one of the country’s greatest players.

And after a run of games where Wales had been guilty of losing a little control in later stages of matches, Allen’s comeback cameo hinted at what he can offer as he broke up play and positioned himself in the right place at the right times to stop opposition momentum.

“People might think his legs are gone, but he reads the game so well,” observed former striker Helen Ward. “He’s constantly scanning. I watched him closely and he’s always looking over his shoulder, he’s a lesson out there for younger players.”

A returning hero, with a renewed ambition it seems.

Allen said thinking about the World Cup was “looking a bit far ahead” after the “whirlwind” of his return, but added: “I made the last one which was something but [after injury] I probably wasn’t in the best shape going into it.

“It was a flat feeling with how we performed out there and perhaps not what I dreamed of.

“For the group as a whole it’s unfinished business on the back of that. That hunger that’s in this group, I think that’s why it’s there. Every camp, every game that we have between now and when that World Cup comes around, it’s all in preparation to get there and throw everything at it.”

If Bellamy’s content came from his side’s greater control, you can understand the frustration at the aspect of his side he cannot influence.

The manager has appeared loathe to dwell on the fact so many of his players – and key players at that – are not getting regular game time.

It is an arresting thought to consider seven of the players who featured on Monday night have had more minutes for their country than they have at their clubs this season.

There is little Bellamy can do but kick his heels until November and hope that situation improves. If it does not, then there might be a word in the ear about a January move before attention turns to World Cup qualification.

That is some way off but, for now, Wales offered a platform for players to sharpen up and show what they can offer their international and domestic bosses.

Some will have relished the chance to feel sharper such as the likes of Ipswich Town’s Nathan Broadhead and Bournemouth’s David Brooks, among those returning from injury.

Some will have been eager to prove a point. Step forward Harry Wilson.

Wilson is yet to start a Premier League game for Fulham this season, yet the 27-year-old is beginning to show he could be the go-to player for this new-look Wales.

Captain Ben Davies had spoken before the game of Wilson being a player who has stepped up since the retirement of Gareth Bale, a name that makes all comparisons awkward.

But, in scoring his third goal in as many games - the matchwinner from a penalty he earned - he became the first Welshman since Bale to achieve the feat.

Before Bale, who also managed it in 2015 and 2011, the most recent names were John Hartson (2003), Dean Saunders (1996), Ian Rush (1993) and Mark Hughes (1985 with four).

Bellamy said he had always been a fan of the player who made his debut as a 16-year-old in the now coach’s final match, but admitted he has been surprised by the size of Wilson's talent since working with him.

Under Bellamy he has scored superb goals in both away games against Montenegro and Iceland. Add in assists, and Wilson has now been involved in eight goals in his last nine appearances.

“He is becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet and although not an obvious leader, he is taking games by the scruff of the neck,” observed Ward.

If Bellamy’s Wales has been more about a new feel rather than new faces on the pitch, it is not the same in his backroom.

Yes, there are returning staff such as experienced former England goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson and performance chief Ryland Morgans, while highly-rated assistant coach James Rowberry is well known after his time at Cardiff City, Newport County and the FAW.

And former midfielder turned Brighton coach Andrew Crofts is being raved about by players in his role as assistant.

But the individual Bellamy turns to most during games is the relatively unknown Piet Cremers, saying after the game “he has brought so much to me in a short space of time.”

Still only 29, the Dutchman joined the set-up from Burnley having previously been analysis head under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for four years.

Appearing to act as a second pair of eyes – and second voice – for Bellamy during games, he could well be a key figure for the future.

Wales next face Turkey on 16 November, a side who lead the group by two points after their 4-2 comeback win in Iceland on Monday.

But Wales head to Kayseri knowing that victory would put them on course to wrap up promotion to League A in their final fixture against Iceland in Cardiff three days later.

There is also a play-off route to promotion: finishing second ahead of Iceland would mean taking on one of the third-placed sides from League A, positions currently occupied by Poland, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia.

Finishing third, however, opens up the prospect of a March play-off against a runner-up from League C to avoid relegation, a prospect that Wales will not want in their thoughts.

And given the chances of a play-off spot for a major finals are dramatically increased by being in the competition’s top-tier – as Wales know well from their last bid to reach the Euros – this is a time of opportunity as well as experimenting for Bellamy’s new-look Wales.