Craig Bellamy on cloud nine as Lewis Koumas stakes claim for Wales spot

By Phil Blanche, Press Association

Craig Bellamy believes Lewis Koumas’ future for Wales is at centre-forward after the 20-year-old opened his goals account in the friendly draw against Ghana.

Koumas rescued Wales with a neat stoppage-time header after Caleb Yirenkyi had put World Cup-bound Ghana ahead midway through the second half.

The Liverpool youngster has tended to play out wide during loan spells in the Championship at Stoke, Birmingham and Hull, the latter of whom he helped into the Premier League at the end of the domestic season.

Asked where he sees Koumas – who was on target 22 years after his father Jason scored his first Wales goal – playing for the Dragons in the future, boss Bellamy said: “Nine, because we don’t really have many nines coming through.

“He could be a huge asset for us on the wing, but due to our lack of nines coming through the system I see him there. We’ve used him a lot in training that way.

“There’s a lot to like about Koumy. He’s such a young player and I’m over the moon that he got his goal.

“He’s been in every camp I’ve had and at times he hasn’t played. I see him as a real future player for Wales that is going to have a big say.”

Wales dominated possession at the Cardiff City Stadium, having almost two-thirds of the ball, and also had more shots and touches inside the box.

But Ghana looked like adding to Wales’ World Cup play-off heartbreak in March when Yirenkyi bundled the Black Stars ahead.

Bellamy said: “I think we had enough chances to win this quite comfortably and there’s always a threat.

“Ghana have a lot of players who are getting ready for the World Cup, and one or two who may be looking after themselves for the World Cup.

“I’m really happy with it. They’re a dangerous team in transition because of the speed they always have in the top line.

“The first 20-odd minutes we were strong. I felt we were too comfortable, it became a little bit too easy and then we lost our directness of runs.

“It was an opportunity again to use a lot of players, one or two have trained very well and one or two have come in new.”

Ghana are in the same World Cup group as England, Croatia and Panama.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz said: “We just need to progress in terms of the chemistry of our movement.

“We need to be faster, more efficient and have more confidence moving forward.

“The win was in our pocket, but it’s time to learn. When we are winning 1-0 there’s no way that we can let the win escape from our pocket, but unfortunately it happens.”