Raya, Pickford and Wales' search for a new keeper

Wales manager Craig Bellamy has called up 20-year-old Joe Duncan from non-league Southend United, citing a shortage of goalkeeping talent and the development benefits of lower-league football.

Craig Bellamy has named Joe Duncan, a 20-year-old goalkeeper on loan at National League side Southend United from Bristol City, in his Wales squad for Nations League matches against Norway and Portugal. Duncan, born in Bristol, previously represented Jamaica's youth set-up before committing to Wales and earning two under-21 caps.

Bellamy explained his thinking by pointing to successful precedents: David Raya had a loan spell at Southport before winning the Premier League with Arsenal, while Jordan Pickford spent time at Darlington and Alfreton Town before reaching a European Championship final and two World Cup semi-finals with England. The, former Wales manager believes non-league football provides valuable development for young goalkeepers, exposing them to physical challenges they might avoid at higher levels.

Wales faces a significant shortage of goalkeeping options. Current first-choice keepers Karl Darlow (36) and Danny Ward (33) are aging, while third-choice options Everton's Tom King (31) and Sheffield United's Adam Davies (34) are also approaching the latter stages of their careers. Bellamy contrasted Wales' situation with former England manager Thomas Tuchel's dilemma of choosing between Jordan Pickford and Leeds United's James Trafford, who at 24 has already cost clubs nearly £100m in transfer fees.