Wales Coach Bellamy Compares Harry Wilson to Suarez and Tevez

Fulham winger Harry Wilson, who has earned 58 caps for Wales and scored 11 goals, possesses some of the same attributes as his distinguished former teammates, Luis Suarez, Carlos Tevez, and Javier Mascherano, according to Wales head coach Craig Bellamy. Wilson has been among Wales’ most prominent players recently, highlighting his importance to the squad last month when he became the first Welshman since Gareth Bale in 2016 to score in three consecutive international matches. Although he has yet to start a Premier League fixture for Fulham this season, Wilson netted two goals in added time as a substitute, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory for his club against Brentford on Monday. “I was there and it was great to see him involved. I am a huge, huge fan,” Bellamy stated after selecting Wilson for the 26-man squad designated for this month’s Nations League encounters against Turkey and Iceland. Bellamy continued, “He’s a player I’m really impressed with, especially his attitude. I’m sure it is frustrating for him at Fulham at the moment, but that’s life and sometimes it doesn’t go your way. It will only change if you work hard.” “He is so strong and he’s streetwise like the South Americans. I played with Suarez, Tevez and Mascherano and the way they used their bodies was amazing.” Bellamy elaborated on Wilson’s playing style, saying, “Harry uses his body in that way and if you get too tight to him, you foul him. His smartness and how he is able to press, his intensity and what he is able to do, really tells me how good a player he is.” Bellamy played alongside the renowned former Uruguay striker Suarez and ex-Argentina midfielder Mascherano during his tenure at Liverpool, while another significant figure in Argentine football, Tevez, was among his teammates at Manchester City. The former Wales captain has been profoundly impressed by Wilson since taking over from Rob Page as the country’s manager in the summer. He described the 27-year-old as “the footballer’s footballer” following his match-winning performance against Montenegro in October. The retirement of Gareth Bale, Wales’ all-time leading scorer and cap holder, in January 2023 created a substantial void. While few players could realistically hope to fill that gap individually, Wilson has elevated his game to new levels since Bale’s departure. He scored two goals in last year’s memorable 2-1 win over 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, and his recent goal-scoring feats are just one component of his remarkable performances. “I love him without the ball,” Bellamy remarked. Bellamy himself earned the last of his 78 caps in 2013, the same year a 16-year-old Wilson made his debut. He added, “It hasn’t been easy for him because every player wants to be playing. You can see he has been working hard because players don’t have that kind of impact if they are not professional and conduct themselves well.” Bellamy recalled, “I saw his quality last year when we [Burnley, where Bellamy was assistant coach] played against him and I saw his numbers. It took us aback. How is this little kid running and sprinting so much? It was elite level, really impressive.” He concluded, “I was there when he made his debut for Wales and I felt he was a kid who was going to come through and have a big future for Wales. I believe he has done that and at the moment he is outstanding.”