While Bellamy was unbeaten in his first nine games after taking charge in July 2024, North Macedonia remain the highest ranked side – 65th – he has got the better of as Wales manager.

“I still want Craig Bellamy to be our manager, but I think there’s an element of a new manager bounce when he first came in, there was an excitement and a freedom,” former Wales international Nia Jones told the Feast of Football podcast.

“Sometimes the novelty wears off and expectations from opponents and fans go up, and I feel we’ve plateaued.”

Wales now have two games to avoid going a full calendar year without winning for the first time since 1989, which would only put more pressure on Bellamy in his first international window since being linked with the Burnley job.

“When Craig took over, that first game against Turkey, the football was fantastic,” said ex-Wales striker Nathan Blake.

“I remember our fans were like ‘Wow, this is pretty, it’s totally changed’. Everything was front-footed.

“Maybe the problem is because we were so good, on the front foot and the pressing was on point and catching teams off guard, maybe teams know what we’re going to do.”