Bellamy, who was appointed in July, has said he would have selected Allen for his first squad in September had he been fit – but the need for the midfielder has been emphasised by the absence of Ampadu, James and Ramsey.

This is a long-standing issue for Wales, who have lacked depth in central midfield for years, particularly since Euro 2016 squad members such as Joe Ledley, Andy King and Dave Edwards retired.

Ampadu and James are now the first-choice pairing but, with those two unavailable due to injury and suspension respectively, Bellamy’s only recognised central midfielders available to face Montenegro are Allen, his Swansea team-mate Ollie Cooper and Josh Sheehan, who plays for Bolton Wanderers in League One.

“We are light in the number six area, and that’s through all the age groups,” said Bellamy.

“If you gave me a look at squad planning when I first came into this, that’s why attacking I could double up. In one or two areas we don’t quite have [that depth].

“We are a nation that sometimes we have to be creative in what we do and sometimes that adds to your strengths. We’ve seen bigger nations than ours really struggle in that area [midfield].

“It’s a really important area for how we play. We just have to get on with it. I’m looking forward to seeing how one or two others get on in that position. They deserve it.”

Lamine Yamal will miss Spain’s Nations League game with Serbia on Tuesday to prevent any further injury after suffering a muscle strain.

Barcelona’s Yamal hobbled off in injury time during Spain’s 1-0 win over Denmark on Saturday.

The 17-year-old had an MRI scan on Sunday and will return to his club after withdrawing from Spain’s camp.

“The tests did not reveal any structural injury, and the medical staff of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed it is a case of muscle strain,” said Spain in a statement on Sunday.

“Prioritising the player’s health and to avoid any risk of injury ahead of the upcoming match against Serbia, it has been decided to withdraw him from the squad.”

Yamal was on the receiving end of several tough tackles in the victory over Denmark and, following the game, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the teenager cannot expect a “bed of roses” playing at the highest level.

“The referee has to protect these talented players, but Lamine has to get used to it,” said De la Fuente.

“Lamine displayed an exceptional attitude and generated a lot for us from the right flank. He has a special talent. I had a teammate who used to say: ‘What do you want, kisses [from the opponents]?’

“Teams will use the weapons they can within the rules.”

Yamal has been replaced in the squad by Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Riquelme.

The Detroit Lions made a statement in their 47-9 blowout over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and Tom Brady is definitely sold on the idea that Jared Goff & Co. are once again Super Bowl contenders — if not favorites — this season.

When asked by FOX NFL Sunday studio analyst Howie Long after the game if the Lions are the best among the eight teams he has seen in person this season, Brady did not hesitate.

“Absolutely,” Brady said. “I just think their ability to play on offense — there’s so many styles to play. They’ve got this two-headed monster [David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs] at [running] back, creative play-calling. Everybody’s involved. They got [wide receiver Kalif] Raymond involved. 

“Gibbs played, he played pretty well today, but at the same time, it wasn’t this electric performance that we’ve seen from him. They got [Amon-Ra] St Brown, [Sam] LaPorta. They just have weapons, and obviously it all starts with that offensive line. The way they dominate the line of scrimmage, you can get any pass rush, Goff is back there surveying the field. They just seem like they got everything rolling. And on defense, they’re up there challenging people. They’re playing man coverage, challenging every single play. And it’s frustrating when you’re a quarterback and there’s no easy throws out there.

“They’re going to be tough to stop. I think they’ve got a lot of humility in that locker room. They got a lot of guys that are playing for one another. … Man, the Lions are a tough team to beat.”

Brady also holds a special affinity for Goff. The two have much in common beyond just their shared history at quarterback, as they both grew up in Northern California and spent impactful parts of their careers in Michigan — Brady in college with the Wolverines and Goff currently with the Lions after an up-and-down stint with the Los Angeles Rams to start his career.

Tom Brady says Lions are the best team he’s seen this year after dominant win vs. Cowboys

“I went through a very similar experience — I was a California kid, I went to the Midwest, to Michigan,” Brady told Kevin Burkhardt during the game broadcast. “And that fan base, in Michigan, they love football. And they’re supporting Goff in the same way that I felt supported when I was at Michigan. It toughened me up, made me a better player. And when I see Goff out there, I love the chip on his shoulder. I hope he never loses that because that resilience, determination, is so critical to long-term success.”

Things are very different for football fans in Dallas, however. Brady has been on the call for all three of the Cowboys’ home games, and in each one, Dallas has fallen behind by more than 20 points and ultimately failed to come away with the victory. Two of those losses, including on Sunday, have come in blowout fashion.

“I think that the number one issue is their ability to run the football,” Brady said. “And I said early in the [broadcast] that maybe the best way to do it is throw the ball early and then open the run game up, because you’ve done a good job spreading the field, and now they’ve got to play pass defense. 

“And I think they’ve tried to start these games trying to be balanced, but the problem is, when they’re not producing in the run game, a quarter-and-a-half into the game, they’re down 14. They’re down 17. Now they are one-dimensional, and the other team has made them one-dimensional. I would like to see them start the game a little more pass-happy, a little more pass-oriented, try to get a lead. They actually had a decent drive here to start the game, settled for a field goal, then they turn the ball over on their next red-area possession. But that was more of the right idea.”

The Cowboys go into their Week 7 bye at 3-3 with a lot to clean up. The Lions, meanwhile, head into a massive showdown with the undefeated division rival Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET next Sunday on FOX and the FOX Sports App.)

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Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was carted off the field with a serious injury to his left leg on a sack of Dallas’ Dak Prescott.

Hutchinson’s leg appeared to snap above the ankle when it collided with the left leg of teammate Alim McNeill as Hutchinson was pulling Prescott down in the third quarter Sunday.

The Lions were leading 34-6 at the time of the injury to Hutchinson, who entered the game as the NFL leader in sacks with 6.5.

After Detroit’s 47-9 win, Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters that Hutchinson was dealing with a broken tibia. 

“Obviously, he’s going to be down for a little while,” Campbell said. “That’s tough. It’s hard when you lose somebody like him. But we’ll know a lot more after this and obviously wish him the best.”

Hutchinson underwent surgery on his leg soon after he arrived at the hospital, according to ESPN.

There was a delay of about 10 minutes as medical personnel tended to Hutchinson while players from both teams made a large circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.

After Hutchinson was loaded onto a cart with a cast on his leg, teammates and Dallas players reached over to pat the 24-year-old. Hutchinson had the third Detroit sack of the game. McNeill had the first two, and Trevor Nowaske added another after Hutchinson left.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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