Roberts Reflects on Career After Injury
Connor Roberts, the Wales and Burnley defender, has expressed a renewed appreciation for his football career following a challenging year sidelined by injury. The right-back was absent for the entire 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury.
Roberts made his much-anticipated return as a substitute in Wales' 2-1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest, nearly a year after his last appearance for club or country, which was against Belgium in June 2025.
During his extended absence, Burnley suffered relegation from the Premier League, and Wales failed to qualify for the World Cup. The 30-year-old, who has represented Wales at two major tournaments, described the experience as mentally taxing.
"It's been very tough," he said.
"It's the first real long-term injury I've ever had so I've done well to get to the age I have without having one.
Then to watch my club not do well and my country fail to qualify, it's been emotional, it's been draining and it's been really hard.
I think now I'm back, it's going to make me appreciate a little bit more the things I've achieved, the things I've done that I never thought I would, the things I'm yet to do and the experiences that I have from now on until I hang up my boots."
Match Details and Team Performance
Roberts was brought on by Wales head coach Craig Bellamy in the 60th minute during the loss to Romania. Fellow substitute David Brooks equalized three minutes after coming on, cancelling out Florinel Coman's opening goal at Stadionul Steaua. However, Adrian Rus scored the winning goal in the 80th minute, securing Romania's first victory since Gheorghe Hagi took over as coach in April.
This result extended Wales' winless streak to four matches in 2026 and prolonged their away friendly winless run to 17 matches, a sequence dating back to November 2008.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Roberts expressed his happiness at returning to international football.
"Personally for me, it's brilliant to be back," said the Burnley defender.
"Some people are happy that I'm back, some people not so happy, but I am back and hopefully I can keep ticking over during the summer and go again next season for club and country."
