Neco Williams is in awe of what came before him. The names of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Craig Bellamy revered as everlasting icons of Welsh football.

But is walking in their footsteps a gift or a curse? Living up to the soaring standards set by the aforementioned trio is an expectation Williams and his Wales colleagues have no option but to cope with.

Of course, Williams is working alongside one of his heroes in Bellamy, who is currently Wales head coach.

The pair face a big week. Wales face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday before a potential final against Italy or Northern Ireland next week for a place in this summer’s tournament.

The shadows of Bale and Ramsey et al continue to loom large – but are they an inspiration or a burden?

“A bit of both,” Williams told BBC Sport.

“As kids, you watched the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy. You grew up idolising them. You wanted to be like them.

“And now that they’ve retired, it’s the new generation to come in. We’re not a massive country and we don’t have loads and loads of players.

“But the way we are as a team and the togetherness, I think that’s what drives us and gets us through.

“Where I used to see myself as a youngster, now I’m not that youngster any more. I’m more the senior player and I need to mentor these young lads coming through. We’re a family.”

Speaking to Williams, you quickly grasp the level of admiration he holds for Bellamy, who has entrusted the Nottingham Forest full-back to be a key part of the team he hopes qualifies for a second successive World Cup.

Bellamy’s rambunctious and infectious approach to his playing career made him one of the Premier League’s most effective forwards.

Williams says his approach to management is just as enthralling.

“How good he was as a player, he’s the exact same as a manager. He’s obsessed with football,” said Williams.

“He’s just constantly talking about football. He’s obsessed with Wales and you want a manager like that.”

Having qualified for World Cup 2022 through play-off wins over Austria and Ukraine, Williams knows all about what lies ahead over the next seven days.

Nerves, tension and stress – but Williams insists it will all be worth it if they reach the finals in June.

“It would mean everything,” he said.

“I’ve been blessed enough to get to one and to get to another would be an incredible achievement.

“The World Cup in Qatar – our play-offs were staggered because we played Austria the first game and then because of what was happening in Ukraine, that got pushed on to the summer.

“So it felt like everything about that tournament was a little bit rushed. We were the last team to qualify. We had the last pick with basically everything – the hotels, the travel, the hotels for our family.

“And when we were there, it was all was our first World Cup, so we didn’t really know what to expect.

“I think we’d do better if we get to this World Cup.”

The men, aged 30 and 34, were arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of the theft of a motor vehicle at 1.10pm on Monday (March 23).

Recommended reading:

The pair remain in custody, police said, and are assisting with ongoing enquiries.

It came after police were called to an address in Watts Road in Beverley yesterday afternoon following a suspected theft of the vehicle from outside the home.

A white Transit van was then seen heading south on the Humber Bridge towards Scunthorpe, carrying the stolen Range Rover on a trailer.

A police spokesperson said: “A short pursuit ensued, and the vehicle was stopped in the Lincolnshire area, with the driver and passenger both being detained.”

Police closed Walkden Road, between Chestnut Avenue and Mullineux Street, following the incident at the junction.

The HGV became stuck under the low bridge, prompting a response from emergency services.

The low rail bridge is clearly signposted for motorists (Image: James Jordan)

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Yesterday afternoon, Monday 23 March, at around 4pm, we received a call advising us that a lorry had struck a rail bridge on Walkden Road in Walkden.

“We immediately put in place safety precautions for trains travelling over the bridge and sent a team to inspect the site.

“The railway was fully reopened at around 5.30pm.

“Bridge strikes like these have the potential to be very dangerous and disruptive but they can be avoided.

“We urge drivers to always know the height and size of their vehicles, including any loads they are carrying, and to carefully plan their routes so our infrastructure isn’t put at risk in this way.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that no injuries were reported.

“Officers were on hand to support with road closures whilst the lorry was removed,” the spokesperson added.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information about a sheep worrying incident on the Ravenswick estate, Kirkbymoorside, that occurred yesterday (Monday) between 5.30pm and 6pm.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “A flock of ewes and six-week-old lambs have been attacked by a loose light-coloured, medium-sized dog that has caused significant injury to multiple lambs and one of the ewes.

“In particular, we need to speak to a potential key witness who may have observed what happened to assist us with our enquiries.

“We also need the woman who was with the dog to contact the police as soon as possible.”

The spokesperson added: “Please be aware that dogs should not be loose or beyond the control of the owner whilst walking in the countryside.

“Loose dogs can have a devastating impact on livestock and wildlife.”

RECOMMENDED READING:

“Please email calum.sutherland@northyorkshire.police.uk if you have any information that could help our investigation. You can also call 101 and ask for Calum Sutherland.”

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make an online report.

Quote reference number 12260052206 when providing details.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Tuesday released American academic Dennis Coyle after holding him for over a year, with the foreign ministry saying the release came on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

A statement from the ministry said the academic researcher had been released in Kabul, the country’s capital, following an appeal from his family and after Afghanistan’s Supreme Court “considered his previous imprisonment sufficient.”

Coyle was detained in January 2025 on allegations of violating laws, although Afghan authorities never publicly stated what laws he was accused of having violated.

In a separate statement, the ministry indicated the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had helped mediate Coyle’s release, and said Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had met in Kabul with former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad ahead of the release.

Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced the designation of Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging in “hostage diplomacy.” Afghanistan joined Iran as countries singled out by the United States for detaining Americans in hopes of extracting policy concessions.

Afghanistan’s government rejected U.S. allegations that it detains foreigners to obtain leverage over other countries, saying Afghan authorities arrest people for violating laws not to make a deal.

Afghanistan released Coyle “based on humanitarian sympathy and goodwill, and believes that such steps can further strengthen the atmosphere of trust between countries,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement, adding that Kabul “also expresses the hope that both countries will find solutions to the remaining problems through understanding and constructive dialogue in the future.”

The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Coyle’s release.

Afghan authorities are believed to hold at least one other U.S. national. Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company, vanished in the country in 2022.

The FBI and Habibi’s family have said they believe he was taken by Taliban forces, but Afghan authorities have denied holding him.

Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi, welcomed Coyle’s release but said in a statement that “we hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief, when Mahmood is returned home to us.”

Hot chicken is the fast food snack du jour and Cardiff’s got a new independent tenders and wings spot in the city centre

A popular city centre curry spot has closed but it’s not all bad news. Chai Street stood at its High Street home next to what was the Kitchen Shop, now Bosco, for more than a decade.

But Chai Street’s unit will not stay empty as it will be filled with Welsh hot chicken shop, Doolally Hot Chicken. It seems hot chicken is the ultimate trend in fast food right now as Doolally is opening right before TikTok sensation, and Drake-loved, Dave’s Hot Chicken is due to open the other end of the street this April.

Dave’s will be found on the corner of Caroline Street and St Mary Street and is known for head-popping hot seasonings and sauces. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here

Doolally’s is blazing its own chicken trail and offering hot chicken boxes, sandos and wings with a system of five distinct global sauce options: Seoul (sweet soy, garlic-forward), Hanoi (tangy chilli, citrus lift), Kingston (smoke first, heat later), Bombay (deep heat, no sugar safety net), and Nashville (extreme heat, zero negotiation).

Advertisement

They will have beer on tap and five cocktail options, keeping their concept simple and they claim they want to “reduce decision fatigue. Pick your chicken. Pick your heat. Have a beer.”

A spokesman said: “Doolally offers five global flavour lanes aka ‘options’ – each one a distinct cuisine rather than a spice level. Seoul is not a milder Nashville. Kingston is not a smokier Seoul.

“They are separate flavour systems drawn from street food traditions worldwide.”

Doolally is operated by Inspiring Restaurants Ltd, the same team behind Chai Street, which occupied the same address for years.

It’s not just Dave’s Hot Chicken that is planning to open in Cardiff, YouTube sensations The Sidemen have unveiled plans for a city centre restaurant, too. The chains are in addition to other global names like Wingstop, Popeye’s, Slim Chickens and, of course, KFC, to have venues in Cardiff.

Aside from Doolally’s, Cardiff also has a healthy independent hot chicken scene, with Fowl and Fury operating its piping hot tenders, wings and sauces in Canton and Cathays. Mr Croquewich at Bridge Studios will sate your fried chicken hankerings, too, and has some less brain-blowing heat options on their menu.

The March international break is in full swing with several Manchester United players remaining at Carrington over the next two weeks

Manchester United will have several players not on international duty over the next two weeks. As a result, those players will be expected to train at Carrington or work on their respective fitness or injury concerns.

United’s last match before the international break was the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week, a result which leaves the Reds in third place in the Premier League table and one point above fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Michael Carrick and Co. are not back in Premier League action until April 13, when they will host Leeds United at Old Trafford. United do not have a game the weekend of April 4/5 due to not being involved in the FA Cup, with the quarter-finals taking centre stage.

READ MORE: Senne Lammens explains training ground behaviour after leaving Man United with clear opinionREAD MORE: Training camp, friendly decision, momentum – What Manchester United will do with 24-day break

While several members of United’s squad are away with their respective national teams, some players are remaining at Carrington to train at the club’s base to maintain their fitness levels.

Patrick Dorgu is continuing to recover from a hamstring injury which has kept the defender on the sidelines since February. United posted a video on their official website of Dorgu working on his rehabilitation at Carrington.

Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Lisandro Martinez are also sidelined with injuries and will be working on their recovery during the international break.

United also confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo had been withdrawn from the Cameroon squad as a precaution, with the forward being withdrawn in the second half of their draw with Bournemouth last week. Before Mbeumo left the squad, the United player had been expected to feature in the friendly matches against Australia and China.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Benjamin Sesko also withdrew from the Slovenia squad as he recovers from a minor fitness issue, with United hoping to have both players available after the international break.

Mason Mount and Luke Shaw were both not called up to the England squad for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan, while Tom Heaton is retired from international football.

Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee were not called up by Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands squad for their round of international matches.

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Defence Secretary John Healey told ministers the UK had defended allies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan from attacks overnight, “while a counter-drone team had brought down 13 drones during an attack on a joint base in Iraq”, No 10 said.

A well-known celebrity has revealed that he often spots Dame Mary Berry “in the village”, and that he and the former Great British Bake Off judge are, in fact, “local” to each other

A celebrity neighbour of Dame Mary Berry has shed light on the baking legend’s true colours, dubbing her an “icon”. As culinary favourite Mary turns 91 today (March 24), well-known radio host Vernon Kay has remarked that he spots her “in the village” on occasion, revealing that he and the former Bake Off judge are, in fact, “local” to each other.

Vernon, who lives in a six-bedroom property in the town of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, with his wife, Tess Daly, shared the revelation on Tuesday morning’s episode of his BBC Radio 2 show.

After he noted that it’s Mary’s birthday today, Vernon played a clip from her 90s series Mary Berry at Home, in which she walked viewers through the process of preparing a Canterbury tart.

Afterwards, Vernon said: “I see her every now and again in the village, Mary Berry. She’s local to us, or we’re local to her. Very, very sweet lady. Always good fun and an icon.”

Advertisement

He didn’t reveal the precise village that he was referring to on air, but past reports have placed Mary’s former home in the village of Penn, where she is said to have resided for more than 30 years in a Grade II-listed property.

However, it’s believed that Mary has lived in Henley-on-Thames, a town on the edge of the left bank of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, with her husband, Paul J.M. Hunnings, since 2019.

Penn is a short nine-minute drive to Beaconsfield, while Henley-on-Thames is slightly further away, about 28 minutes by car, so it would suggest that Mary and Vernon still live within 30 miles of each other.

Meanwhile, a funny story has recently resurfaced about Mary’s run-in with the law, which she previously recounted during an episode of The Graham Norton Show, while chatting to Claudia Winkleman.

She explained that 25 years prior, she was asked to travel to the US to take part in cookery demonstrations. But she would ultimately land in hot water as she’s “very particular” about “getting everything right”.

Mary said: “I also try to look ahead, so I thought I ought to have my recipes, all the ingredients, weighed out in case the plane is late, or in case the connections aren’t right.

“I can go straight on stage to do my cookery demonstrations. So, I weighed out each recipe in little bags, and I had the flour and the sugar and everything grouped together, so that I could lift it out for the first recipe and so on.

“When we arrived, there were dogs, and I love dogs, and I was just ready to go and they all, three of them came up with their noses sort of like this [does the impression], and I thought ‘come along’, but they didn’t want to know me.

“They just began and then suddenly the airport became empty, and there were just uniformed people, and I was with Lucy Young, my assistant. They parted us – Lucy there, me there – into two cells.”

Claudia jokingly said Mary was in a cell with a “selection of packets containing white powder”. It was further disclosed that police asked Mary if she was expecting to “make money” from them.

She replied: “Oh, I do, and my fee has already been agreed.”