Wales manager Craig Bellamy has praised Liverpool for their handling of Lewis Koumas following the striker's recent breakthrough for club and country. Bellamy said he feels Liverpool are handling the 21-year-old incredibly well as Koumas continues to develop at Anfield.
Koumas' Progress at Liverpool
Koumas has made seven appearances for Liverpool this season, including a start against Manchester City, and has made two starts in the club's Champions League campaign. He appears to be firmly in the plans of head coach Adoni Iraola this season.
The forward's game-time could be tempered over the coming weeks as Liverpool welcome back several attacking players from injury, but Bellamy is adamant Koumas is destined for big things.
Bellamy's Praise for the Forward
"We saw moments in the summer with us when we brought him in, and we've seen moments that he's grown again, which you have to," Bellamy said. "We always felt Koumas has all the attributes you need to be at a top level."
"He obviously hit the ground running in pre-season. The game-time he's had has been good and it's only going to help us. From the period of when he played for us to going back to Liverpool and now leading into these, he's had good game-time."
"But I have to be honest, the type of forward he is, the intensity he plays at. I adore it. If you could send me a forward, he's my forward. He's the type of player I adore. He dips in, dips out and looks to stretch. Willing to get on the ball on any occasion, and I honestly feel like Liverpool are handling him incredibly well."
Wilson's Return to the Squad
Meanwhile, Bellamy is poised to welcome back influential forward Harry Wilson, who returns to the squad following injury. Wilson missed the last camp due to injury and has not quite managed to catch fire since his move to Leeds United.
Bellamy believes the upcoming international break could provide the platform to kickstart Wilson's season. "Maybe. It worked last time because when we first came in, he wasn't playing at Fulham. He wasn't a regular starter then, and he kick-started," he added.
"If you watch when he came back from our international games then, he started playing for Fulham. He dipped a little bit, then he went back in, and then the second year, completely different. He had a huge impact."
Bellamy noted that many of his players are not regular starters at their clubs, but said it is not his business to demand game-time. "The one thing with Harry, if he's not playing, he's a real example to other players in that you train, you work hard. So with Harry I have no issues that he won't be ready to have a big impact and hopefully he does."
