Darlow in Wales squad as Ramsey remains skipper

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow has made one Leeds United appearance so far this season, having featured four times in 2023-24

New head coach Craig Bellamy has named Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow in his first Wales squad, while there are recalls for Ollie Cooper, Sorba Thomas and Mark Harris.

England-born former Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United player Darlow, 33, is included as injured veteran stopper Wayne Hennessey - who is currently without a club - and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tom King miss out.

Midfielder Joe Morrell, another player without a club, is not in the 24-man squad, while Cardiff City’s Rubin Colwill is among a number of younger players not included having been involved in summer friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovakia under former boss Rob Page.

Bellamy - who was named successor to Page in July - has confirmed that Cardiff City midfielder Aaron Ramsey will remain Wales captain for his first games in charge, the Nations League fixtures against Turkey in Cardiff on Friday, 6 September and in Montenegro three days later.

Bellamy said "he didn't see any reason" to take the captaincy away Ramsey "for the time being", while stressing that he wants numerous leaders in his squad.

"I understand the role of captaincies, I was captain for Wales through all of the age groups and into the senior team," he added.

"I do understand it, but I like a leadership group, I like a number of captains, I like a group. I like a lot of senior players who have a lot of input and I like to be able to communicate with them as well, tactically but also how I want a squad to look and how I want them to behave and they play a big role in that it is theirs.

"Also, what I’d ask for them to do on the pitch, I’d like their input with that. We have a certain level of non-negotiables, I certainly do, but I do like feedback.

"I know Aaron might be the captain, but I see a number of captains if I’m being honest."

Darlow will compete with Leicester City's Danny Ward – who played his first club game in 17 months on Tuesday – and Sheffield United's Adam Davies for the goalkeeping position in Bellamy’s Wales team.

Currently second choice to Illan Meslier at Leeds, Darlow turned down the chance to represent Wales in 2013 and 2018.

He is the grandson of Ken Leek, who was a member of Wales’ 1958 World Cup squad.

Darlow is one of two uncapped players called up by Bellamy alongside left-back Owen Beck, who joined Blackburn Rovers on loan from Liverpool this week.

Swansea City midfielder Cooper and striker Harris, who has made a fine start to the Championship season with promoted Oxford United, are called up for the first time in more than a year.

Winger Thomas also returns having started 2024-25 positively with Nantes after joining the French top-flight side on loan from Huddersfield.

Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas retains his place having impressed in the opening weeks of a season-long loan at Stoke City, but Colwill, Fin Stevens, Joe Low, Charlie Crew, Charlie Savage and Matt Baker all drop out having been involved in Page’s final squad in June.

They are likely to feature for Wales Under-21s against Iceland on 10 September, with Matty Jones due to name his squad on Thursday.

Ipswich Town pair Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead are absent for Turkey and Montenegro through injury, as is Bournemouth’s David Brooks.

Coventry City left-back Jay Dasilva misses out despite winning his first Wales caps in the summer, with the likes of Dylan Levitt and Tom Bradshaw also overlooked.

Wales squad

Danny Ward, Adam Davies, Karl Darlow, Ben Davies, Owen Beck, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts, Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Aaron Ramsey, Ollie Cooper, Sorba Thomas, Kieffer Moore, Lewis Koumas, Brennan Johnson, Harry Wilson, Daniel James, Mark Harris, Liam Cullen, Rabbi Matondo