Wales head coach, Craig Bellamy faces another stern test away to Montenegro in Nikšić tonight in the Nations League (7:45pm) UK time. Plus we have news on Dan James and Charlie Crew.

tThis is the worst we'll be : A bold statement by Bellamy after the 0-0 draw with Türkiye on Friday night for sure. That will increase the expectations of the fans and hopefully rubs off on the players in a fixture that Wales have struggled to get to grips with over the few times the countries have played each other. However, this squad hasn’t faced the Montenegrins before, and the last time was back in 2011. That game Wales won 2-1 in a European Championship qualifier having been defeated 1-0 the year before at the Podgorica City Stadium. Bellamy was in the starting eleven for that game in Montenegro, up alongside Gareth Bale. Even the second half introduction of Rob Earnshaw couldn’t gain Wales an advantage. The only win came under the guidance of Gary Speed, MBE, the other two games when John Toshack, MBE was the manager.

Both worthy of recognition.

The first fixture in 2009, a friendly in Montenegro, Wales also lost, that time 2-1.

Eastern European countries have regularly upset the more ‘fancied’ sides in competition over the last twenty years or so. England have found that out, between 2010 and 2013 their first three games against Montenegro all ended in draws. As Wales found out that was an era that Montenegro were on fire.

Bellamy has also done his homework, it’s refreshing to hear a much better and in-depth and thoughtful Wales manager talking about games with so much personal responsibility in his work ethic. “I’ve watched a lot of them, people have been here to have a look at everything. We’re aware of where we’re going. There’s a running track around the pitch, which is a little bit different. Hopefully we’ll have ball boys on the side because we could lose 20 to 30 seconds for every throw-in. It does happen. We’d really like the game to go quick, quick, quick. But we’ll have to wait and see on that. They might want the game to go really quick and we might want to slow it down. It’s just adapting. All different challenges, every challenge you learn more about individuals and as a group.”

As the Red Wall gathers, yes there is expectation.

Charlie Crew has returned to the U21 side, but Rubin Colwill remains and Swans players Ben Cabango and Ollie Cooper are in contention. Liam Cullen, and the very odd news black out last week is out and is likely to be unfit for his club side come Saturdays game against Norwich City. Dan James a hamstring injury but it’s not a complete muscle tear, however you can be rest assured it will be a few weeks before he is seen in action. On that James commented. “Just a slight injury that’s going to keep me out not for too long, but unfortunately I’m going to miss the internationals. Just a hamstring so it’s not too bad, but obviously gutted to miss this weekend’s game, but thankfully it’s not one that’s going to keep me out too long.”

On the Montenegro front they still have a danger-man in thirty four year old, Stevan Jovetić. Despite Wales hosts losing in Iceland, 2-0 on Friday, he came on as a substitute. This Montenegrin team are physical and won’t back out of any tactic whatsoever to win this game, by hook or by crook is the term.

We will have the teams for this game later.

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Photographs : REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo & Open Source

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