Joe Duncan earns first Wales call-up after Southend loan impresses Bellamy

Joe Duncan has received his first senior Wales call-up after impressing Craig Bellamy during a loan spell at Southend United. BBC Sport Wales reported that the 20-year-old Bristol City goalkeeper was the only new name in the squad announced on Wednesday for this month's Nations League matches against Norway and Portugal.

Duncan was born in Bristol and had previously been involved in Jamaica's youth set-up before committing to Wales. He has made two appearances for the Welsh under-21 side. His promotion gives Bellamy an opportunity to assess a younger goalkeeper within the senior group as he searches for options beyond the country's established internationals.

The call-up is not being presented as an immediate change of first-choice goalkeeper. According to BBC Sport Wales, Duncan will not be handed his debut against Norway in Oslo next weekend. Instead, Bellamy wants a closer look at a prospect whose recent performances have caught his attention. The head coach said Duncan had not always been on Wales' radar because he had not previously been available to them.

Bellamy has watched Duncan play for Southend, keeping a low profile at the match to avoid distracting him. He has also drawn on the assessment of Southend manager Kieron Dyer, a close friend and former team-mate at Newcastle and West Ham. Bellamy said Dyer rated Duncan highly and made clear that he trusted his former colleague's understanding of the game.

The goalkeeper's experience in the National League was a positive factor in Bellamy's assessment. The Wales coach explained that lower-league football can expose developing keepers to physical challenges and situations in which they receive less protection. He said he liked what he had seen of Duncan at Southend and regarded those demands as valuable preparation for a young player learning the position.

The selection also reflects the age and playing circumstances of Wales' other goalkeepers. Karl Darlow is 36 and Danny Ward is 33. Tom King, 31, and Adam Davies, 34, have usually provided cover behind them, but BBC Sport Wales reported that neither was playing for his club. With those options established but ageing, Duncan's inclusion gives Bellamy another player to assess as he works to develop the next generation.