Wes Burns Credits Craig Bellamy's Support After Injury Return to Wales Squad
Wales winger Wes Burns returns to the national team after a career-threatening knee injury, praising manager Craig Bellamy's backing and targeting Nations League impact.
Wales winger Wes Burns has returned to the national squad for the first time in two years, crediting head coach Craig Bellamy for supporting him through a serious knee injury. Burns suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in January 2025 while playing for Ipswich Town against Liverpool, which sidelined him for nearly a year and ended his Premier League aspirations as Ipswich were relegated.
Burns revealed that Bellamy, who experienced a similar injury as a player, called him regularly during rehabilitation. "The world of football forgets you very, very fast when you're not playing," Burns said. "But when someone of Craig Bellamy's stature... is calling me every month... it's a massive, massive plus." He added that the calls made him feel close to the squad rather than distant.
Now back in the fold, Burns hopes to feature in Wales' Nations League campaign, which began with a 1-0 defeat in Portugal on Thursday. He did not play in Lisbon but aims to get minutes against Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday, 27 October, and later against Norway. Burns described the jump from League One football to international level as significant but believes his past experiences against top teams will help.
The 31-year-old also explained his club move: he left Ipswich to join Leicester City in League One, opting for a longer contract and the chance to recreate back-to-back promotions. Leicester currently sit 13th with two wins from seven games, but Burns backed manager Russell Martin's high-risk style. "It's a process and processes take a long time," he said. "I've got no doubt it's going to pick up."
Image: FAW / BBC Sport
