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Bellamy says he chose Wales over Burnley move

Injuries complicate a four-game Nations League window.

George Benn ·

Illustrative archive photograph of Cardiff City Stadium from Clos Phil Dwyer, taken on 25 October 2025. Photo: Daiscog / CC0.

Illustrative archive photograph of Cardiff City Stadium, 25 October 2025. Photo: Daiscog, CC0; cropped.

Original photographCC0

Craig Bellamy says he turned down a potential move to Burnley because he wanted to remain Wales head coach, as he prepares for a four-match UEFA Nations League window.

In an account published by the Football Association of Wales on 15 September, Bellamy said he had spoken about Burnley but decided Wales was the right place for him.

Bellamy has named 28 players, with injuries ruling out Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor. He highlighted the impact of the expanded window: Rodon will miss four matches rather than two.

Harry Wilson, Jordan James and Ben Cabango return, while Cardiff City’s Cian Ashford receives his first senior Wales call-up.

Wales visit Portugal on 24 September and Denmark on 27 September before hosting Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on 1 October and Denmark there on 4 October.

The fixtures mark Wales’s return to League A after promotion in Bellamy’s first Nations League campaign. FAW says his side went unbeaten through that campaign before securing its place back in the competition’s top tier.

Background and supporting figures

Where this sits

2 checked facts

  1. How does it compare?

    • The four-game window means injured Joe Rodon misses four matches rather than two, Bellamy said when explaining the squad challenge.

      Football Association of Wales

    • Ashford earns his first senior call-up as injured defenders Rodon and Lawlor miss out; Wilson, James and Cabango return.

      Football Association of Wales

Every line above was checked against the source named beside it before this piece was published.

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