Harry Wilson eyes familiar Wales trick to find Leeds United form with Fulham example

Leeds United winger Harry Wilson hopes a couple of quickfire international appearances can help him build rhythm ahead of returning to Elland Road.

Wilson has endured a stop-start few months since joining Leeds on a free transfer, with only three of his eight Premier League appearances coming from the start. The winger is yet to register a goal or assist but did come off the bench to play an important role in Noah Okafor’s winner against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Having missed the last international break through injury, upcoming Nations League meetings with Norway and Portugal offer Wilson his first chance to play for Wales while a Leeds player. And the 29-year-old hopes to build on recent positive signs in familiar surroundings.

“There might be spells at club-level where you're not playing as much as you'd like,” Wilson told BBC Sport’s Feast of Football podcast. “I had it a couple years ago at Fulham at the start of the season. I think Bellamy had just got the job here and we were playing some really good stuff.

“So I knew every four or five weeks I was going to come into camp and have two games playing the style of the football I want to play, and I really felt that was keeping me going. Then ultimately, when my time came at club-level to get into the team, I felt I was able to hit the ground running because of those games.

“So yeah, it's definitely something I look at if I'm not playing as much as what I want to at club-level, coming away to the international games, playing the way we do, which I think really suits me. And I'll be hoping that after these two two games, I can do that as well as well at Leeds.”

Wilson’s quad injury earlier this season came at a manageable time for Leeds but a disappointing one individually. The Welshman was looking forward to reuniting with his international teammates for a longer period than usual, it being an extended four-game break.

One of five Leeds players in the Wales squad, Wilson will expect to play a key role in two big Nations League games. Craig Bellamy’s side are third in their group with two difficult but intriguing fixtures on the horizon.

“I wasn't happy with whoever came up with that idea to have a four-game window,” Wilson joked. “It was a bit unfortunate, the timing of the injury a few days before that, and if it had happened on a normal schedule I maybe would have just missed two games.

“But the fact it happened in the first four-game break, it meant I couldn't play a part in them. So yeah, it wasn't an enjoyable three weeks for me working hard to get back fit, and then I was available for the first game after that break. The timing wasn't great but itching to get back out there on Saturday now.”