Harry Wilson Injury Setback for Wales' Nations League Campaign

Harry Wilson is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of Wales’ Nations League campaign, in a significant setback as they step back into League A.

The Leeds United forward had been named in Craig Bellamy’s squad for a demanding run of fixtures against Portugal, Denmark and Norway in September and October. Those plans have been thrown into doubt.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke confirmed on Friday that Wilson has suffered a quadriceps muscle injury which will rule him out of Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace.

“Harry Wilson is out of this game, a quad injury, he reported some problems after the last game and also during this training week,” Farke said of the 69-cap international, who has scored 17 times for his country. “He will also probably miss the Welsh games, so definitely not good news for him and also not for the Welsh team.”

Wales’ medical staff may still want to carry out their own assessment, but the early signs are grim. Wilson has been one of his country’s standout performers over the last 12 months, a creative and goalscoring outlet Bellamy could scarcely afford to lose.

And the bad news does not stop there.

Bellamy is already without key defender Joe Rodon, Wilson’s team-mate at Elland Road, while Cardiff City defensive duo Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio are also sidelined. Cardiff forwards Isaak Davies and Rubin Colwill are unavailable through injury as well, along with Wrexham attacker Nathan Broadhead, further stripping Wales of depth and attacking variety.

It leaves Bellamy juggling options ahead of a brutal schedule.

Upcoming Fixtures

Wales open their Nations League campaign away to Portugal on 24 September, the first of four fixtures in an extended international window. A home clash against World Cup quarter-finalists Norway is sandwiched between a double-header with Denmark.

Ranked 38th in the world, their lowest position since August 2014, Wales must travel to Copenhagen to face a Denmark side sitting 21st in the rankings. Norway, also World Cup quarter-finalists, then visit Cardiff on 1 October before Denmark return to the Welsh capital on 4 October.

A daunting run, even with a full squad. Without Wilson and a growing injury list, Bellamy’s first steps in League A now look even steeper.