'Have to check on' - Wales boss Craig Bellamy issues update on fitness of Leeds United winger Dan James
Leeds United winger Daniel James will need checking on ahead of Wales’ friendly against Northern Ireland tonight (March 31).
The jet-heeled wideman is one of four Leeds players currently on duty with the Dragons, in the camp alongside Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu.
He started alongside his club teammates last week when a defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina extinguished Wales’ World Cup dream, scoring a stunner.
Craig Bellamy’s side will face Northern Ireland in a friendly tonight as they look to shake off the heartbreak.
James, however, will require monitoring ahead of Wales’ return to action.
Craig Bellamy issues Dan James update
Bellamy said: “Dan James we have to check on because he’s had one game in four months leading into this - and he was ill leading into the camp.
“The output, he’d done more than what we thought he was going to be able to do.
”I’d have loved to have kept him on for 120 minutes [against Bosnia] with the way he was playing, all day long, but physically it wasn’t possible. He was cramping up and he needed to come off. So we’re really checking on him at the present moment.”
Dan James’ frustrating season
James was a key figure in Leeds’ Championship title-winning 2024/25 campaign, registering 12 goals and nine assists. However, he has endured plenty of frustration since he held the trophy aloft.
A hamstring injury ruled him out from early December through to early February and he returned to find Leeds playing a new system less reliant on wingers.
Since returning from his lay-off, James has appeared as a substitute in five league games and been an unused bench option twice. In total, he has made 17 appearances at club level this term.
Leeds fans will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on Wales team news this evening, perhaps hoping Bellamy decides to shuffle his pack.