Wilson targets win in Oslo to edge Wales closer to Nations League survival
Harry Wilson says Wales can shock Norway again in Oslo on Saturday and move a step closer to survival in Nations League A. Wilson has 17 international goals, the most of any player in the current Wales squad.
Wales beat Norway in Cardiff last month to record their first ever win in the Nations League's top tier, and Craig Bellamy's side see a second victory in the return fixture as a significant boost to their campaign. As it stands Wales sit third in Group A4, above Norway on head-to-head record. Saturday's match is scheduled for 14 November, 17:00 GMT and will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live Sports Extra, and covered on the BBC Sport website and app plus live text commentary.
A win in Oslo would improve Wales' chances of remaining in League A and of strengthening their Euro 2028 qualification prospects, but it would not automatically guarantee a third-place finish or better. Wales could finish the group level on points with Norway and Denmark, in which case the sides would be separated by goal difference in the games involving those three teams.
Wales can still finish second, third or fourth in Group A4. A top-two finish would take Bellamy's side to the Nations League quarter-finals in March 2027; finishing third would lead to a relegation play-off against a League B team in March, while bottom place would result in either a relegation play-off or direct relegation depending on Wales' ranking with other League A groups. Finishing second or third would also mean Wales are seeded in the draw for the next European Championship.
Wilson returns to the squad after missing the four-game international window in September and October because of a muscle injury, and Wales have called up uncapped Duncan. He said he was "absolutely gutted" to pick up the fitness issue just before the previous international camp. "I feel like we know what we've got to do on Saturday to keep us in Group A and it's full focus and full steam ahead to do that," he said.
Reflecting on the timing of his injury, Wilson added: "Whoever came up with that four-game win, he needs sacking," he said with a smile. "You get an injury a couple of days before that and it rules you up for four games and you should only miss two. Whoever's come up with that, it cost me another four games. "For me personally, I'm itching to get back out there."
Wilson joined Leeds United on a four-year contract in the summer after his Fulham deal expired, signing for the Yorkshire club on a free transfer in July and linking up with Joe Rodon, Ethan Amapdu, Daniel James and Jayden Lienou at Elland Road. After a final season at Fulham in which he was a first-team regular and scored 11 club goals, he has made only three Premier League starts and five substitute appearances for Leeds so far and is yet to score for his new club, who are currently ninth in the top flight. On his situation at club level he said: "When I wasn't in the team, the team was doing well," Wilson said. "I'm an honest player and I understand when I've been in starting XIs, and in teams where I'm doing well, I don't want to be dropped. "But more recently, wins have started to be a little bit more difficult to come by and I've started a few more games. I think that's how football is. "I'm a player that wants to play every game, but ultimately it's the manager's decision and the players who do play have to perform to stay in the team."
Wilson reiterated that the immediate aim is victory in Oslo and noted the team then face a high-profile fixture next week: "I think [the target] before we started this campaign was to try to remain in Group A. "It's what we've worked so hard to do and to play against the best teams in Europe and ultimately down the line when the qualifying games start, it puts us in a better position the better we do in this group. "I think a win on Saturday gives us a good chance of staying in Group A and then we have the massive game against Portugal on Tuesday [17 November], so ultimately the focus is on getting a win in Oslo on Saturday."
