Football

Who Is Lewis Koumas? Liverpool Wonderkid Tipped To Make Competitive Debut For Wales In Nations League

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Cai Parry
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Cai Parry Sports Editor

Cai is a news and features writer that specialises in football, but has experience covering a variety of other sports, including darts, basketball, American football, MMA, boxing and more. He holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby, and worked with Nottingham Forest FC and Burton Albion FC throughout his studies. Cai also has experience working in social media with the Football Association of Wales, where he worked on a freelance basis, and has also been an accredited writer in the JD Cymru Premier for both Y Clwb Pêl-Droed and welshfootie since the 2019/20 season.

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Published03 Sep 2024

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Lewis Koumas

Liverpool wonderkid Lewis Koumas, who is currently on loan at Stoke City, has been tipped to make his competitive debut for Wales ahead of their Nations League fixtures against Turkey and Montenegro in September.

The 2024/25 Nations League campaign is fast approaching, and with Wales set to embark on a new era under new manager Craig Bellamy, Liverpool talent Lewis Koumas has been tipped to make his competitive debut for the Dragons.

Wingers Rabbi Matondo and Daniel James have been forced to withdraw from Bellamy’s maiden squad for Wales’ matches against Turkey and Montenegro, and fellow wide-men David Brooks, Wes Burns, and Nathan Broadhead are also ruled out.

Some fans have suggested that this could open the door for 18-year-old Koumas, who featured in Wales’ friendly matches against Gibraltar and Slovakia in June, to follow in his father’s footsteps and make his competitive debut for the senior national side.

Jason Koumas, Lewis’ dad, scored 10 goals in his 34 appearances for Wales, featuring for the likes of Tranmere Rovers, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, and Wigan Athletic throughout his career.

Who Is Lewis Koumas?

On loan at Championship side Stoke City from Premier League giants Liverpool, Lewis Koumas is predominantly a forward that can lead the line or play out wide, but he also has experience playing in midfield at youth level.

Koumas joined the Reds from Tranmere Rovers as an U11 player and progressed through the ranks to break into the first team fold during Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield in 2023/24.

Amid an injury crisis within Liverpool’s squad, Koumas was named on the bench as Liverpool beat Chelsea at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup last February before making his senior debut in the FA Cup against Southampton three days later, in which he scored the opener in a 3-0 victory.

Less than a month after scoring his first professional goal, the talented youngster made his Wales U21 debut, coming off the bench in a vital qualifier to score the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Lithuania at Rodney Parade.

Two months later, Koumas received his first senior international call-up for two friendlies, with then-manager Rob Page handing the forward his debut against Gibraltar before earning his second cap against Slovakia three days later.

Following Klopp’s Liverpool departure and Arne Slot’s arrival, Koumas travelled with the Reds’ squad on their pre-season tour of the United States, joining second-tier side Stoke on loan for the season upon his return to the United Kingdom.

Koumas made his debut for the Potters in the Carabao Cup against Carlisle in the middle of August and netted his first Championship goal on his first league start 11 days later in a 2-1 defeat against his father’s former team, West Brom.

Three days later, he scored and assisted in a standout performance as his side defeated Middlesbrough 5-0 at the Riverside Stadium to advance to the Carabao Cup third round.