The little-known teen exciting Wales boss Bellamy

Kai Andrews has caught the eye of Wales boss Craig Bellamy

A little known teenager with barely 400 minutes of senior football to his name – and now in the Wales squad to kick off their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup.

Kai Andrews had been nowhere near the discussions of fans as Craig Bellamy prepared to name his selection for this week's opening qualifiers with Kazakhstan and North Macedonia.

But – if you listen to the Wales manager – the 18-year-old midfielder could yet have plenty talking about his talent in time to come.

"There's just something more about this kid; he has a presence - and that excites me," said Bellamy.

Praise indeed from someone who does not offer it falsely.

And, to back up the words, the Wales boss has already assigned Joe Allen as a mentor to ensure he makes the most of an unexpected yet intriguing first call-up.

A 'refreshing confidence'

Andrews qualifies for Wales via his maternal grandmother and has won 12 caps at Under-19 level

A graduate of Coventry City's youth system, Andrews' selection comes after catching the eye on loan at Motherwell.

But he has been on the Welsh radar for some time.

The Football Association of Wales have not been shy in searching out for players with potential eligibility as part of their talent identification.

Although born in England – and signing for Coventry as an 11-year-old – Andrews Welsh heritage comes via a maternal grandmother from Abercarn in south Wales.

He has spoken of his mother being "in tears, hysterical" with the pride of the recent call-up, but he has already worn the dragon on his shirt having first been drafted into the system at Under-19 level, first capped at the age of 17 in 2023 – just a few months after making his Championship debut with Coventry.

Alongside several promising talents, including Manchester United's Gabriele Biancheri, he was part of Chris Gunter's squad that reached the elite stage of qualifying for the Under-19 European Championships, and scored in the 5-0 win over Liechtenstein to seal progress.

"He's a refreshing character," says Wales Under-21 boss Matty Jones, yet to coach Andrews but who has monitored his progress closely.

"He's got a level of confidence which you don't often see at that age. It's not just about ability. It's about your personality, it's about your character, your professionalism, and he's got a refreshing way about him. I love to see that."

Hitting his stride in Scotland

It was in action for Wales Under-19s that sparked a January switch to Scottish football.

The now former Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell saw him impress in the qualifying win over Scotland in November, prompting a loan deal seven weeks later.

Immediately drafted into the side because of injury issues, an initial struggle followed before new manager Michael Wimmer put his faith in him for a string of key games – including a notable appearance in the 2-1 win at Rangers' Ibrox at the start of the month.

"He was fantastic, especially in that environment that would have been pretty daunting for a lot of inexperienced players," says BBC Scotland's Nick McPheat, who has watched Andrews show his comfort in receiving the ball from a deep-lying role, coping with the physical demands, while also echoing Bellamy's claim of his "presence".

Andrews has made six appearances in the Scottish Premiership since his loan move to Motherwell

An international education from Allen

Bellamy also used the word "profile" when discussing Andrew's selection. The "perfect profile", in fact, for an area of the pitch the 45-year-old knows is key to how he wants his side to operate, and could do with bolstering.

Already marked down for inclusion before Aaron Ramsey's injury, Andrews is a player Bellamy would love to see develop as an option for deeper on the field.

Which is why a telephone call to Allen was made before the squad went public.

"Maybe I wouldn't have looked to do it if I didn't have a player like Joe," explained Bellamy.

"I rung him and said, 'Listen, we've got a young kid coming in who we feel believe has a really good opportunity to become a really top player. We need you to be his mentor; give him all your best habits, have a word with him when you feel you need to, give him everything you have - he needs to see what elite is'."

The idea is – rather than a quick cap – to expose Andrews to the set-up, get a feel for the levels needed.

Having been capped as an 18-year-old himself – and having been part of an Anderlecht management happy to fast-track rookies – Bellamy will not shy away from pressing him into action.

But there is a sense this is longer-term, even if the immediate goal remains reaching the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA in a year's time.

"He's a player who can really develop and we've done well as a country to identify players, bring them in at a young age but use them in the right manner," he added.

"We're taking care of the next generation. Having players like Joe allows me to expose someone like Kai with his talent because he's in safe hands.

"What we will hopefully see over the next year or so is one elite player passing the baton onto another to come through – and if he has half the career Joe has had for Wales, he will be a huge asset for us."