Craig Bellamy: Faith but work – Wales’ two years under Bellamy

Bellamy is keen to regularly emphasize the need to increase and improve Wales’ player pool.

The 46-year-old has used 37 different players during his tenure so far.

He handed seven players – Carl Darlow, Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Capacchio, Kai Andrews, Joel Colwill, Isaac Davies and Cameron Congreve – their senior Wales debuts.

Qualifying for Euro 2028 remains a long-term goal for Wales and Bellamy, and blooding young talent is seen as essential to bolstering the nation’s long-term prospects.

Now halfway through his four-year contract with the Football Association of Wales, there are clearly signs of evolution, although work remains to be done.

Assessing his two years in the hotseat after the defeat to Romania, Bellamy said: “We’re definitely a lot different, two years older.

“It’s been really enjoyable, there’s a lot that I’ve really liked that we’ve been able to do.

“But it’s also so, so clear, I feel like these are the areas we need to improve if we’re going to improve.”

Bellamy, who has been linked with a number of clubs in recent months, has clearly not lost his appetite for the Wales job.

“It also excites me because I like the team, I like the way we play, but in some areas we have to be better,” he added.

“It will allow us to be able to compete with the top, top teams on a regular basis – because that’s where we want to be and in the Nations League A we will now be tested.

“It’s going to test everything about us. We want to be where we want to be and stay there, so there’s a lot of work to be done.”