Liam Cullen aka the ‘Kilgetty Messi’ helped Wales top their Nations League group with a double strike and an assist in a man of the match performance for his country’s 4-1 win over Iceland.

In only his third start for Wales, Cullen who last month put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him with his boyhood club Swansea City until the summer of 2028 shone at the Cardiff City Stadium in a clash that his nation needed to win, while also hoping for a favour from Montenegro who took on Turkey who started the night at the summit of Group B4, with Wales two points behind in second place.

Welsh hopes took an early hit in the game played on a cold Tuesday night (November 19) as Iceland went ahead after seven minutes, but Cullen's first two international goals, one from Brennan Johnson's cross, the second helping Daniel James' half-saved shot over the line, put Wales in front at half-time.

Cullen set up Johnson to score Wales' third after the break, before Harry Wilson struck his fourth goal in five international appearances with a dipping effort from outside the box.

Victory meant that manager Craig Bellamy remained unbeaten in his six games so far as Wales head coach, whilst winning their group enhances Wales' chances of securing at least a play-off spot, while avoiding the Nations League play-offs means their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico could start as early as March.

Cullen commented after the game: “That's the dream, we all want to make the World Cup.

“I don't think there was a better way than this to start off the manager's reign and hopefully we can take it into the qualifiers. We can go into that campaign full of confidence.”

On Bellamy, Cullen said: “I think in the first six games it shows the ideas and the way he wants us to play is working for us - and hopefully we can take that into the World Cup qualifiers.

Liam Cullen Wales
In only his third start for Wales, Cullen who last month put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him with his boyhood club Swansea City, earned a man of the match performance against Iceland. (liamjcullen/Instagram)

“Topping the group tops off the perfect start for the manager and his staff.”

Twenty-five-year-old Cullen who first joined Swansea City FC at just eight years of age, said recently of his new deal with the club, that he wants to repay the faith shown in him: “I think any player that is given a contract it comes with expectations. It’s something I want to enjoy the pressure of and hopefully go and deliver.

“I think as a forward you are playing in the most pressured part of the pitch, it’s a responsibility I want to have and it’s something I want to try and thrive off. Hopefully I can do that.”