Tom Lawrence eyes end to international wilderness as Rangers star awaits Wales call from Craig Bellamy

Tom Lawrence was caught on the wrong side of what Wayne Rooney described as “a bit of history” when it came to relations with his former Wales boss Rob Page.

But the Rangers ace hopes there might finally be a bright international future ahead after breaking the ice with new Dragons gaffer Craig Bellamy. It was Lawrence’s former Derby County manager Rooney who let slip the reasons behind the then Rams skipper’s perplexing omission from Page’s Welsh squad just a couple of months before he made his switch to Ibrox in the summer of 2022. The Manchester United legend clearly wasn’t impressed by his understanding of the stand-off as his man was continually overlooked.

“I think he [Page] managed Tom at Under-21 level and maybe there’s a bit of history,” was how Rooney put it back then, before adding with thinly-veiled dig: “As manager, you need to get over that.”

But Page never did, with Lawrence left an outcast for the majority of his four-year Welsh reign. However, there’s now fresh scope for optimism for the Ibrox playmaker when it comes to hopes of adding to his 23 senior caps.

Bellamy has been appointed Wales new head coach after Page was dismissed following his side’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024. Lawrence has already held initial talks with the former Celtic frontman as he looks towards an international recall.

It’s been decided that he will sit out next month’s Nations League clashes with Turkey and Montenegro. But the 30-year-old hopes the door might be opening for a return ahead of the October showdowns Iceland and the Montenegrins.

“I spoke with the manager and I think we both agreed to leave this squad,” said Lawrence, who last pulled on a red jersey for a friendly win over Mexico back in March 2021. “Due to the