Kai Andrews: The teen exciting Wales boss Craig Bellamy

Bellamy also used the word “profile” when discussing Andrew’s selection. The “perfect profile”, in fact, for an area of the pitch the 45-year-old knows is key to how he wants his side to operate, and could do with bolstering.

Already marked down for inclusion before Aaron Ramsey’s injury, Andrews is a player Bellamy would love to see develop as an option for deeper on the field.

Which is why a telephone call to Allen was made before the squad went public.

“Maybe I wouldn’t have looked to do it if I didn’t have a player like Joe,” explained Bellamy.

“I rung him and said, ‘Listen, we’ve got a young kid coming in who we feel believe has a really good opportunity to become a really top player. We need you to be his mentor; give him all your best habits, have a word with him when you feel you need to, give him everything you have – he needs to see what elite is’.”

The idea is – rather than a quick cap – to expose Andrews to the set-up, get a feel for the levels needed.

Having been capped as an 18-year-old himself – and having been part of an Anderlecht management happy to fast-track rookies – Bellamy will not shy away from pressing him into action.

But there is a sense this is longer-term, even if the immediate goal remains reaching the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA in a year’s time.

“He’s a player who can really develop and we’ve done well as a country to identify players, bring them in at a young age but use them in the right manner,” he added.

“We’re taking care of the next generation. Having players like Joe allows me to expose someone like Kai with his talent because he’s in safe hands.

“What we will hopefully see over the next year or so is one elite player passing the baton onto another to come through – and if he has half the career Joe has had for Wales, he will be a huge asset for us.”