Leeds Teenager Charlie Crew Joins Wales Squad

Leeds United teenager Charlie Crew has been named in Craig Bellamy’s Wales squad for their Nations League matches against Turkey and Iceland. He takes the place of Ipswich Town’s Nathan Broadhead. Crew, who earned his first Wales senior cap by replacing Charlie Savage in the 0-0 draw with Gibraltar, will join the team for the upcoming fixtures. The Nations League encounter between Turkey and Wales is set for Saturday, 16 November, at Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off. Live coverage will be provided on S4C, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, and through live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. The 18-year-old Crew secured his initial cap during a 0-0 friendly draw against Gibraltar in June. This selection follows only weeks after the midfielder’s inaugural Championship appearance for the Elland Road club. Bellamy, who had previously brought Crew into the camp as cover during his initial games at the helm in September, expressed his conviction that the young player is poised to develop into “a real top player”. Crew has joined the Wales squad in advance of Saturday’s match in Turkey, a game they are required to avoid defeat in to retain an opportunity of securing the top position in their Nations League B group. Subsequently, Wales will play Iceland in Cardiff on Tuesday, concluding their campaign. Crew is the newest player to be added to the roster since Bellamy’s initial squad announcement. Coventry City defender Jay Dasilva, Fleetwood United goalkeeper David Harringto Reading, and midfielder Charlie Savage were also called up as replacements. These changes occurred after several players withdrew, including Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore, Ipswich winger Wes Burns, and Blackburn’s on-loan Liverpool full-back Owen Beck. No explanation has been provided for the return of 13-cap Broadhead to Ipswich, though he has experienced limited playing time with his club this season following a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season. The 26-year-old has not yet featured for Ipswich and was absent from the bench during the recent weekend victory at Tottenham, despite being included in previous squads. Furthermore, Bellamy had initially included Luke Harris in his selection, but the uncapped Fulham striker, currently on loan at Birmingham City, has since had to pull out due to illness. Charlie Crew has progressed through the academy system at Leeds to establish himself as a consistent member of Daniel Farke’s squadBorn in Cardiff, Crew was a product of his home-city club’s academy, where Bellamy served as a coach for a period. He transferred to Leeds at the age of 16 in August 2022 and quickly made an impression at the club’s Thorp Arch training facility. In March of last year, he received a call-up to the Wales Under-21s at 16 years old and has since played four times under Matty Jones, who stated that England had attempted to convince the dual-eligible Crew to represent them. Following Crew’s initial inclusion in Leeds’ matchday squads in March 2024, then-Wales manager Robert Page described it as a “no-brainer” to incorporate the adaptable Crew into his squad for the season-ending friendlies. Crew made his debut for the senior Wales team in the 0-0 draw against Gibraltar, with Page remarking that the young player possessed “talent in abundance”. He committed to a new four-year contract with Leeds in July and, after being included in Daniel Farke’s squad nine times this season, he entered the game as a substitute for his initial experience of Championship play during the final moments of a 3-0 victory over Plymouth on 2 November. Crew has consistently been highly regarded by personnel at the Football Association of Wales, and Bellamy recently noted that he is the newest individual in Leeds’ distinguished history of skilled Welsh players. The full squad comprises: Goalkeepers: Danny Ward, Karl Darlow, Tom King, David Harrington. Defenders: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Connor Roberts, Neco Williams, Jay Dasilva. Midfielders: Jordan James, Rubin Colwill, Josh Sheehan, Joe Allen, Harry Wilson, David Brooks, Daniel James, Sorba Thomas, Charlie Savage, Charlie Crew. Forwards: Brennan Johnson, Mark Harris, Lewis Koumas, Liam Cullen, Luke Harris.