Amid Wales’ striker struggles, one of the nation’s true footballing greats feels one man could come to Craig Bellamy’s rescue.
Ian Rush, the record scorer for the men’s side until being surpassed by Gareth Bale in 2018, faced competition from the likes of Mark Hughes and Dean Saunders during his 16-year Wales career.
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The Red Dragons are sorely lacking top quality and depth at present, though, in a position where they have been blessed with talent in years gone by.
It is a situation that has worsened this week after Kieffer Moore withdrew from the squad for the crucial Nations League double-header with Norway and Portugal due to injury.
But Liverpool legend Rush believes Anfield prospect Lewis Koumas could help to ease Bellamy’s forward concerns on the back of his impressive start to the campaign with the Reds.
“He’s had a fantastic few months,” Rush said of the 21-year-old.
“It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience for him, and he’s loving it as well.
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“I think now is the time for Wales, whether he starts or not, I think he’ll be more experienced now.
“It’ll be interesting if Craig plays him or not as a number nine. I think with Kieffer Moore out, he might play him as a number nine because, what he’s doing, he’s helping all the others. He might not score, but he’s helping everyone else out.”
MK Dons forward Aaron Collins has been called up to replace Wrexham’s Moore as Bellamy’s side take on Norway in Oslo on Saturday (17:00 GMT) before hosting Portugal in Cardiff on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).
Speaking in June, Bellamy said Koumas’ international future will be as a centre-forward.
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Rush – who netted 28 times in 73 appearances for his country – is not yet convinced that Koumas’ best position is as a nine.
But the Liverpool icon says the youngster – who has featured 14 times across all competitions under Andoni Iraola so far this season – brings so much to the table, regardless of his position.
“I’m not sure he’s number nine, but I’ll tell you what, what he gives to the team is something special,” added Rush.
“One thing I know with him, you’re going to get 100%. He’ll run around all day.
“He might not score, but he can make things happen for other people.”
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Liverpool improving, but more to be done
Before this season started, Rush told BBC Sport Wales that Liverpool needed to give Iraola time to succeed on Merseyside having been named as Arne Slot’s successor in the summer.
Rush, Liverpool’s record goalscorer, feels the club are improving under Iraola, although he reckons they can get even better once players including Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley return from injury.
“It’s getting better, but I think there’s still a lot more we can do,” he said.
“We’ve ground results out – Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace, we beat Brighton as well.
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“Get everyone back from injury from January, I think we’re looking good. We’re in the top four now, we need to stay in that top four and I think we can do that because the manager knows we could do more, but so far so good.”
Liverpool host Iraola’s former club Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on 16 December.
They are well placed to progress into the knockout stages of the Champions League having also climbed into the top four of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Palace in their final fixture before the November international window.
Rush believes lifting a trophy in addition to securing a top-four finish would represent a successful first campaign at Anfield for Iraola.
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“First of all you’re looking at the top four, if you do that, that’d be great,” he said of Liverpool’s aims for the remainder of the season.
“Obviously we’d like to win a trophy, we’re still in every trophy.
“We’re always going to do well the Champions League, whether we get to the quarters or the semi-finals, I don’t know.
“We’re still in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup’s still to come so we’ve got it all to play for. For me, finishing in the top four and win a trophy, I think that’ll be a good start.”
Ian Rush was speaking at the launch of his new Penderyn Distillery whisky, NINE.
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