Nathan Broadhead has withdrawn from the Wales squad for June’s World Cup play-off final and four Nations League matches due to injury.
Bangor-born Broadhead had earned his first senior Wales call-up after an impressive season on loan with Sunderland, with the loanee Everton striker scoring 13 goals in 27 appearances for the Black Cats.
However, Broadhead endured a stop-start season, after suffering with Covid in pre-season and hamstring injuries forcing him to miss a large part of the season and a further injury forcing him to miss the latter part of Sunderland’s play-off push.
Broadhead will now return to Goodison Park to try and break into Frank Lampard’s plans for next season but he has enjoyed his time at the Stadium of Light.
Speaking to evertonfc.com he said: “It’s been a stop-start season for me. I got COVID in pre-season, came back and had two weeks training, then I went up to Sunderland. In the first game I got injured and I’ve had a couple of others [injury issues] this season, but I never give up. Every game I play, I’ll give 100 per cent.
“It’s been a tough journey but I’m glad we could round it off with promotion at Wembley. This season has been my first playing consistently, playing in front of 30-40,000 fans every week and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it – and the promotion makes it even better.
“I’ve been learning every day from experienced players and that’s part of it. Of course, I want to be in that environment and playing senior football.
“This season, getting promotion and winning a trophy – that’s why I came to Sunderland. In my first interview I said that and we’ve achieved it, so I’m really pleased.”
