Defender Ben Davies has made 89 appearances for Wales and scored two goals
Nations League: Wales v Montenegro
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Monday, 14 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
Captain Ben Davies has played down the idea Wales are playing high-risk football as they look to continue their unbeaten start under head coach Craig Bellamy against Montenegro on Monday.
Bellamy is in the process of instilling an adventurous new style, the rewards and pitfalls of which were on show as they led 2-0 in Iceland on Friday, only to draw 2-2.
With two draws and a win – earned in September’s reverse fixture in Montenegro – from Bellamy’s first three matches, Wales are second in Group B4 of the Nations League.
“That terminology [high-risk] can assume we are not in control at times. Just because it’s close to our goal doesn’t mean we feel we are taking big risks,” said Tottenham Hotspur defender Davies.
“I think the more we can have the ball, it means they don’t have it. If they want to press really high then it means we have got space up front, and we have players there who can cause problems for any teams.”
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Bellamy succeeded Rob Page as Wales boss in July and, although he has only had a few days to work with the players this month and last, the difference has been striking.
On the ball, Wales are more ambitious and creative as they look to build attacks from all areas of the pitch, while out of possession they press with a far greater intensity.
Their most impressive performance was arguably in Bellamy’s opening game, a goalless home draw with Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey, while they raced into early two-goal leads in their 2-1 win in Montenegro and 2-2 draw in Iceland.
“Probably the biggest difference is the style of play. We’re trying to dominate with the ball. We’re trying to show that we can be good without it,” said Davies.
“It’s about maintaining those levels. You’ve seen in the games we’ve played that we have tried to start on the front foot, dominate the ball and create as many chances as we can.
“Look, there’s a period of adaptation that’s expected. I feel that it’s gone pretty well and that as a group there’s a lot more to come from us.”
Montenegro are bottom of Group B4 having lost all three of their matches so far, part of a longer losing streak in all competitions that stretches to five games.
“They’re a good team and they’re difficult to prepare for. They will leave space to attack but they’re very dangerous on the counter as well,” said Bellamy.
“We need to control the game with the ball, we need to control the tempo because, if you don’t, they’ve got a lot of players who are very much into the transitional part of the game and really come alive.
“I’ve seen loads of games when they’ve pressed and loads when they’ve sat off. They can be unpredictable, they feel the game more when it gets going and that’s what I’m probably expecting tomorrow.”
Manager Craig Bellamy says he wants everyone to love this Wales team and “be excited”.
Team news
Bellamy is expected to make several changes from Friday’s draw in Iceland, some enforced and others to rotate his squad after a tight turnaround.
He is short of options in central midfield, with Ethan Ampadu and Aaron Ramsey out injured and Jordan James suspended following his second yellow card of the campaign in Reykjavik.
Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen, who came out of international retirement to be included in this squad, could feature having been left out in Iceland.
Fitness issues have limited the 34-year-old to only six substitute appearances for his club this season, and Bellamy admits starting him against Montenegro would be a "gamble".
Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson is another unavailable through suspension, so the likes of David Brooks, Lewis Koumas, Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns will be vying to take his starting spot.
Goalkeeper Danny Ward, full-backs Connor Roberts and Neco Williams, centre-back Chris Mepham, attacking midfielder Harry Wilson and striker Kieffer Moore have all been booked once so are one yellow card away from a one-match ban.
Uncapped left-back Owen Beck – on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Liverpool – is back in the squad having been with Wales Under-21s last week.
His return raised the prospect of a reunion with Montenegro striker Milutin Osmajic, who was banned for eight games for his club side Preston North End after biting Beck in a Championship fixture in September.
But as well as his suspension for Preston, Osmajic will also miss Montenegro’s match against Wales having picked up two yellow cards in this Nations League campaign.
Match facts
Wales have won both of their two most recent meetings with Montenegro, including in the reverse fixture last month – this after Wales had lost their first two matches against the Brave Falcons.
Wales have won just one of their past nine Nations League matches (three draws, five defeats), though it was in the reverse fixture against Montenegro last month.
Montenegro have lost each of their past five matches in all competitions, the longest losing run in their history (since 2007).
Wales’ past two home games in all competitions have finished 0-0 – they’ve not failed to score in three consecutive home matches since September 2012, while they’ve never had three consecutive home goalless draws.
Wales are unbeaten in all three of their games under Craig Bellamy so far – no Wales manager has gone without defeat in his first four matches in charge.
Harry Wilson has been involved in seven goals in his past eight appearances for Wales in all competitions (four goals, three assists), scoring in his past two.
