Norrington-Davies' new Wales start after injury torment

Rhys Norrington-Davies has won 13 caps for his country, scoring one goal

Nations League: Iceland v Wales

Venue: Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik Date: Friday, 11 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds & live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

Rhys Norrington-Davies admits his Wales return has felt like his maiden international camp after missing more than two years of football with his country through injury.

Norrington-Davies last turned out for Wales in a Nations League contest against Poland in September 2022 but has been included in Craig Bellamy's squad for the upcoming matches with Iceland and Montenegro.

"The first day back on camp, I was... what's the word for it? I was not nervous as such, but because I've been out for a long time, there was a bit of a weird feeling," said Norrington-Davies.

"But as soon as I saw the lads again, I felt at ease. It felt like the first time I had ever been on camp, but that obviously wasn't the case."

While he is not expecting to play a prominent role in the Wales jersey this month, the 25-year-old admits he is just excited to be back in and amongst the international setup.

"I'm not expecting too much from myself," said Norrington-Davies, speaking in the Wales camp prior to news of former Sheffield United team-mate George Baldock's tragic death.

"With it being the first one being back, it's just good to see the lads. I can introduce myself again and get to know the new management staff. I’m just excited."

A complex hamstring injury saw the left wing-back miss the 2022 World Cup, something the Saudi Arabia-born defender admits he continues to struggle to come to terms with.

"I was still only a couple of weeks post-surgery, so I think the first couple of weeks were bed-bound, just watching the World Cup," he explained.

"It probably hasn't actually settled in yet, that I did [miss the tournament]. I probably haven't realised the opportunity I've missed out on, even now, two years down the line.

"At the time, you are devastated when you pick up the initial injury, but your focus then is trying to get back fit and remaining as positive as you can about the situation.

"I watched the boys whilst they were out at the World Cup, and it was a tough one to take.

"I was thinking that I should have been there. But, in my head, I just wanted to get back fit and back playing as soon as possible."

After more than a year on the sidelines, Norrington-Davies made his long awaited return at Manchester City, although, on only his fifth appearance after coming back from injury, the versatile defender suffered a further setback.

It means Norrington-Davies has featured just 12 times for Sheffield United since initially sustaining the problem in October 2022, and the setback also came at a point where his contract with the Blades was close to expiring.

"I was coming up to the end of my contract and there were probably a lot of grey areas with the injury I had sustained," he said.

"A hamstring injury occurs quite a bit in football, but the complication, not so much.

"I'd picked up nerve damage. It could have been sustained during the initial injury or during surgery. It just meant the time frame was extended massively.

"I was at the eight week mark, post surgery, and I was in the gym doing exercises I'm getting told to do and I can remember just not having a great deal of strength.

"At that stage, we probably realised something wasn’t quite right."

Now over his brutal ordeal, Norrington-Davies joins the Wales squad having featured in three of Sheffield United's four matches prior to the international break.

He is now hoping to make his mark under Bellamy having learned of his shock squad inclusion via Blades and Wales team-mate Adam Davies.

"To be back in camp for the first time in two years is incredible. I’m looking forward to the games coming up," he added.

"Adam Davies texted me to say congrats with a Welsh emoji. So I was thinking, 'Congrats? What's going on here?' and then I found out that I'd made the squad.

"I wasn't really expecting it. I had missed out on the last squad. That was probably the first squad where I had been fit for selection.

"But like I say, I haven't played any football in the last two years. So, this came unexpectedly."