Bellamy Envisions Koumas as Central Striker for Wales

Wales manager Craig Bellamy is convinced that Lewis Koumas belongs at centre-forward for the national team, a shift that was underscored when the 20-year-old Liverpool striker netted his first international goal to secure a 1-1 stalemate against Ghana at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

Although Koumas has primarily operated on the left wing throughout his developing career, Bellamy has recently deployed him in a more central role. The Wales boss highlighted a specific tactical need driving this change, noting a gap in the current squad’s attacking options.

"We don’t really have any nines coming through, but we do have a lot of wingers, brilliant wingers," Bellamy explained. "He could definitely be a huge asset for us on the wing, but due to our lack of nines coming through the system, we've used him a lot in training that way and he's really been electric."

Bellamy praised Koumas’ performance, adding, "There's a lot to like about Koomy. He's such a young player and I'm over the moon he got his goal because he's deserved it."

The loanee’s recent form has been impressive. During the latter half of the 2025-26 season, Koumas helped Hull City secure promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Previously, he has gained experience on loan at Birmingham City and Stoke City, where he predominantly featured on the left flank. However, Wales possess significant depth in wide areas, with options such as Daniel James, Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson, David Brooks, and Sorba Thomas available. Conversely, the side lacks genuine strike partners.

Bellamy noted that he first trialed Koumas in the central position during a friendly against Northern Ireland in March, where he felt the player was "OK." Regarding his appearance against Ghana, Bellamy observed, "When he came on today, he needs to be a little bit tidier but that's normal."

Looking ahead, Bellamy expressed strong confidence in Koumas’ potential impact. "I see him as a real future player for Wales who's going to have a big say. I'm delighted for him."

Wales conclude their current campaign with a friendly match against Romania on Saturday at 18:45 BST. This follows their exit from World Cup qualification after a home play-off semi-final defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March.

Meanwhile, Ghana prepares for their World Cup campaign, having been placed in a group containing England, Croatia, and Panama. They will travel to the United States for final preparations. When asked about the Black Stars' chances, Bellamy acknowledged the difficulty of their situation under new manager Carlos Queiroz.

"You have a tough group," Bellamy said. "You have some key players who weren't involved today. I like Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo. You're a dangerous team in transition because of the speed you always have in the top line - Ghana have had that for a number of years."

He emphasized the importance of their opening match. "If you can keep it tight... counter-attacking ability... your first game is Panama, your tournament is going to be decided on that game. If you win one game, you might get into the knockout stage. Croatia and England are going to be two really difficult games. The way you support your team, you never know."

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 22:06:38 UTC