Wes Burns, Wales winger, has returned to international football after spending two years sidelined by a serious knee injury. He credits Wales head coach Craig Bellamy with providing crucial support during his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in January 2025, which threatened to end his career. Burns' comeback is significant because he was overlooked during Wales' unsuccessful 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, but Bellamy's regular check-ins—once or twice monthly—helped keep him mentally connected to the squad and gave him hope of returning.

Burns was out for almost a year following his injury during an Ipswich Town match at Liverpool, and by the time he returned, Ipswich had already been relegated to the Championship. Wales opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Portugal, where Burns remained on the bench, though he hopes to feature in Sunday's match against Denmark. In a significant career decision, Burns opted to join Leicester City on a longer contract rather than pursue another Premier League season with Ipswich, prioritising long-term career sustainability over completing his top-flight journey.