It’s a team that feels like a new era, without talismen such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, who helped the Dragons roar back to the top table of international football, but they may just have their heir apparent to those legendary names in Harry Wilson.

Hello Harry DAZN/FIFA

Wilson is by no means a new name to the Wales camp. The 29-year-old made his debut for the Welsh side in 2013, becoming the youngest player at the age of 16 years and 207 days to play for his country, beating the previous record holder, Gareth Bale, by 108 days.

This week he'll look to win his 68th cap for his country, and his importance to the side feels greater than it's ever been. 

That's not to discredit his journey with this national team so far. Wilson has scored 17 times and was part of the side that qualified for Wales' first World Cup since 1958, four years ago, but whereas before the Fulham man felt like a cog in a wheel, it now feels like the moment for Wilson to stand alone as the country's main man. 

And a large part of that is down to a season where he's been one of the top performers in the Premier League. 

Standout season (C)Getty Images

Since making the permanent move to Craven Cottage in 2021 after becoming frustrated at opportunities at Liverpool, Wilson has been a consistent member of the West Londoners' side in the Premier League. 

However, this season, the Welshman has taken his game up another level. Deployed on the right or centre of a front free, he has started 27 of Fulham's 29 games this season, and his impact has never been greater.

His 11 goals are a new career high for the player, while he has also laid on seven assists for his teammates, too. It makes 2025-26 the most productive season of his career so far. 

He's a player full of confidence, and it's spreading to his international game too, having scored a hat-trick for Wales in the 7-1 win over North Macedonia in November. 

It's perfect timing for Wales, as they look for a figurehead to lead their play-off charge and hopefully World Cup campaign, now that they've seen the leading names from the previous generation slowly fall away from the international picture.

Repeating the feelingShaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images

The first stage of cementing his place as Wales' newest talisman will be overcoming the play-off games - something which Wilson already has experience of four years ago, and he's determined to lead a repeat of that feeling ahead of the home clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

​"To be part of a group that gets our country to the back-to-back World Cups would be incredible," he told BBC Sport. 

"It's something we're all desperate to do, but we know it's going to be two massive games. The first one against Bosnia.

"We know what a difficult game it's going to be. We have to use the home advantage, that's going to be massive. 

"It's huge to us because we know how much stronger we are with the fans behind us.

"I remember the feeling when that final whistle went in the final against Ukraine. Knowing you're part of a team that's just got your country to a World Cup was amazing."

It's a feeling that the Welsh fans hope to experience once again by the time next Tuesday rolls around, and they'll be looking to Wilson to deliver like he has all season for the Cottagers. 

For the man who once succussed Gareth Bale as his country's youngest-ever player, he now has the chance to follow in Bale's footsteps once again and become the fiercest dragon among the Welsh side. 

 

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