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Nations League: Wales v Turkey
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, 6 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Radio 5 Live, plus live text commentary, followed by report and reaction on the BBC Sport website and app.
Striker Mark Harris says he wondered if his Wales days were over before being handed a fresh chance by new boss Craig Bellamy.
Harris, 25, had not been involved in a squad since Wales’ exit from the 2022 World Cup.
And hopes of a recall under former boss Rob Page on the back of his promotion-winning form for Oxford United last season were dashed when he was ignored for Wales’ summer friendlies.
But a combination of Bellamy’s appointment and Harris’ superb start to the Championship season – he has scored four goals in four league appearances – has seen the former Cardiff City player recalled for the Nations League games against Turkey and Montenegro.
“It does go through your mind a little bit,” Harris said when asked if he feared he would not get an opportunity to add to his five Wales caps.
“But I always had self-confidence and self-belief and thought if I can go to Oxford, with the aim of being promoted, get off to a good start, then who knows, hopefully I would get a call-up again.”
A Cardiff academy product, Harris was still with the Bluebirds when he was last involved with Wales two years ago.
But having been restricted to a bit-part role in the Welsh capital, he turned down the offer of a new deal to drop down a division with Oxford.
“I wanted to prove myself and becoming the starting number nine for a team,” he said.
“It had been tough at Cardiff – sometimes playing, sometimes not, not knowing what position I was going to be playing in.
“I wanted to reignite my career, play games, establish myself as a proper number nine and show what I can do.”
Swansea-born Harris has done just that. His Cardiff career – which included loan spells at Newport, Port Vale and Wrexham – saw him score 10 goals in 95 appearances, more of half of which came off the bench.
He has equalled that goal tally in just his last 14 Oxford games.
After his goals helped the U’s return to the Championship after 25 years away -thanks to a play-off victory over Bolton in May – Harris currently leads the scoring charts in the second tier.
His fine form prompted speculation during the transfer window about interest from Bundesliga new boys Holstein Kiel.
Harris says he was aware of the links but is more focused on what he can do next for club and country.
He is thriving on confidence which, he says, helps explain his fabulous, long-range volley against Blackburn last month.`
“I may have tried it before, I may have not, I’m not sure,” he said. “But it’s confidence from enjoying your football.
“Being the main man definitely helps with that, and it’s been about repaying the faith Oxford have shown in me. I got given the number nine shirt and it was all about showing what I can do.”
Image source,Getty ImagesMark Harris won the most recent of his five Wales caps in June 2022, coming off the bench in a 2-1 Nations League defeat in Poland
Harris hopes he can secure the same sort of chance to impress – and the same success – with Wales.
He is relishing the opportunity to work again with Bellamy.
Wales’ new boss was a youth coach at Cardiff while Harris, a similarly sparky forward to Bellamy in his playing days, was progressing through the ranks.
Harris says he has taken detailed advice from Des Buckingham – the Oxford manager who was at one stage considered as a potential Page replacement by the Football Association of Wales – but he feels playing for Bellamy will also be an education.
“I learned a lot from him at Cardiff and the first few days have been brilliant,” said Harris, who has never started a senior international.
“The way he sees football is just a lot different to what I’ve been used to, and that’s when you can pick up little tips and play the way he wants you to play.
“We haven’t had the conversation about what position he sees me as yet – the meetings have been about getting ideas into all of us – but I’m sure we will have that chat and it will be good to see what his thoughts are.
“There’s good competition but it’s down to me now. I just have to work hard and show him I am ready and can be the number nine, or whatever position he wants me to play in.”
