Wilson, Darlow and Broadhead withdraw from Wales squad ahead of Nations League A campaign
Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow have withdrawn from Craig Bellamy's Wales squad on 21 September 2026 ahead of the Nations League A campaign. Wales have called up David Cornell, Joe Taylor and Charlie Savage as replacements.
Leeds attacking midfielder Wilson — described in the report as Wales' most influential player in recent times — had been a doubt with a quad problem. Wrexham forward Broadhead was expected to miss out because of a thigh issue. First-choice goalkeeper Darlow also pulled out despite making his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup last week and being on the bench for the Red Devils' Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday.
Wales have summoned Leicester City keeper David Cornell, Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor and Reading midfielder Charlie Savage as cover. Cornell and Taylor are both uncapped. The call-ups were made to fill the gaps created by the trio's withdrawals.
Bellamy's side face Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday and then meet Denmark in Copenhagen next Sunday. They follow those fixtures with a home game against Norway in Cardiff on Thursday, 1 October, before Denmark visit Cardiff three days later. Thursday, 24 September, 19:45 BST Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
Wales were already without key defenders Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, while Cardiff City duo Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies are also unavailable. Those absences compound the squad disruption ahead of the Nations League matches.
Cornell, 35, joined Leicester on a one-year deal last Friday, having been a free agent after leaving Preston North End in the summer. The former Wales Under-21 international is from Swansea. He has made more than 200 senior club appearances and played for a string of clubs since coming through Swansea City's academy.
Taylor, another former Wales Under-21 player, has scored five goals for Huddersfield so far this season. The Peterborough-born 23-year-old shone while on loan at Wigan Athletic in the second half of the last campaign and had previously impressed at Lincoln City and Colchester United. Savage, the son of former Wales midfielder Robbie, is a regular at Reading and has made more than 150 appearances since joining from Manchester United in 2023; the 23-year-old made his senior international debut in the friendly win over Gibraltar in October 2023 and won a second cap the following year.
Wales begin their Nations League A campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, 24 September. Their next fixture after that is against Denmark in Copenhagen the following Sunday.
