Bellamy hands Bluebirds youngsters call-up for Wales camps

Craig Bellamy has selected four of Cardiff City’s brightest young talents for training camps in Cardiff and Spain.

- GLEN WILLIAMS

The Wales head coach has named a 29-man senior squad as preparations ramp up for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium in June. And four uncapped Bluebirds have been selected.

Bellamy will take a closer look at four players who have enjoyed breakthrough seasons in the Welsh capital; Cian Ashford, Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio and Luey Giles.

Ashford was on standby when the last international camp in case of any injuries thanks to his red-hot form either side of the new year.

The 20-year-old claimed the young player of the season gong at the end of year awards and is set for a big campaign in League One next term after Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

Lawlor, a 19-year-old centre-back, got his first taste for senior football when he impressed against a star-studded front line comprising Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio in the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The defender, who has captained Wales at youth level, also earned praise after coming on against Norwich City in the final game of the campaign.

He, too, looks like he will feature heavily for City next term.

Kpakio shot on to the scene at Cardiff in pre-season.

The 17-year-old impressed Erol Bulut during the summer games and earned a call-up to the pre-season tour of Austria.