Bellamy support crucial after serious injury - Wales' Burns

What the report says

Wales winger Wes Burns has said Craig Bellamy’s regular support during his recovery from a serious knee injury helped keep his international career alive. According to BBC Sport Wales, Burns thanked the national-team head coach for staying in contact while he was out for almost a year after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in January 2025 during Ipswich Town’s match at Liverpool. Burns said the calls mattered because injuries can quickly push players out of sight and out of mind.

Burns, 31, has returned to the Wales squad for the first time in two years and is hoping to add minutes in the Nations League after not getting off the bench in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat away to Portugal. Wales next face Denmark in Copenhagen, and Burns wants to use the campaign to make up for the international matches he missed while rehabilitating.

The BBC report also noted the wider career impact of the injury. Burns’ recovery came after Ipswich had been relegated from the Premier League, and he later chose to join Leicester City on a longer contract rather than stay for another top-flight season. He said the decision was shaped by both career longevity and the chance to build another promotion challenge.

More broadly, Burns described the injury as a reminder of how quickly football careers can change. He also praised the chance to return to major international fixtures, including upcoming games against Denmark and Norway, after nearly losing his place in the Wales setup.