Wales are unbeaten in their four games under Bellamy, with two wins and two draws leaving them second in Group B4.
They will face leaders Turkey in Kayseri on Saturday and will need a win to boost their chances of winning the group and securing promotion to the top flight of the Nations League, before concluding their group with a match against Iceland in Cardiff on Tuesday. following.
More impressive than the results under Bellamy has been the expansive new style of play that the former Liverpool and Manchester City striker has introduced.
The Wales manager himself has spoken enthusiastically about the opportunity to work with the quick and direct James for the first time, and the feeling is mutual.
“It has been brilliant. “We’ve dominated the ball a little more, but we still have that togetherness to get it back,” James said.
“I’ve been watching and it’s really fun to watch the new style. I just want to get involved.
“I think he wants to have the wingers one on one, put them behind, and that really suits me. I want to be one on one, I want to attack from behind. “We want to play between the lines and ultimately be behind, so their principles suit me well.”
James is also looking forward to working with Bellamy as the former Wales captain is a player he admired when he first dreamed of playing for his country.
“He was a player I aspired to be like when I was younger because of his work ethic. He had an aura on the field: give him the ball and he will go find you a goal or an assist,” added the former Swansea City and Manchester United player.
“But he was also very important without the ball because of his work rate. A lot of his principles – the way you want to grab the ball, create one-on-one and get behind, whereas without the ball it’s about how quickly you can win it back – I’ve grown up with them. Swansea and other teams I played with.
“After missing the first two calls, it was all a matter of learning what it takes. “I felt like I was missing out and that’s why it’s great to be back.”
