Jordan James insists depleted Wales will not be overawed when they line up against “the best players in the world” in their Nations League A opener against Portugal on Thursday.

A Wales squad already missing the likes of Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor has been hit by the withdrawals of Karl Darlow, Nathan Broadhead and star man Harry Wilson.

Having returned to the top tier of the Nations League by winning their League B group in 2024, Wales begin what looks like being a demanding campaign as they meet a star-studded Portuguese side in Lisbon.

The Portugal squad features a string of star names including Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes, not to mention 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder James says Wales will have “no fear” as they go in search of a first win since last November’s World Cup qualifying triumph against North Macedonia.

“Obviously they’re the best players in the world at the end of the day, you can’t really sugarcoat it,” James said.

“They’ve got Champions League winners, they’ve got these kinds of things.

“I think we’re always underdogs. We’re used to it so hopefully we can use that to benefit ourselves.

“You can’t count us out. We’ve got a puncher’s chance at the end of the day and we’re going there to sort of cause an upset.”

James is likely to be in direct competition with a Portuguese midfield regarded by some as the best in world football.

In Portugal’s most recent game, the 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16 at this summer’s World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain duo Neves and Vitinha lined up at the base of midfield with Manchester United captain Fernandes in front of them.

But 21-cap James has faced similar challenges before in his young career, having memorably produced a stellar performance when Wales beat a Croatia team featuring a midfield three of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic in October 2023.

“I’ve still got Kovacic’s shirt on the game up in my room,” said James, who was 19 at the time of the Croatia triumph.

“That was a really proud moment for me at such a young age to be able to compete against the best.

“It was a really proud moment and hopefully there will be many, many more.”

James says he does not get nervous about facing star names – although he did feel “a bit star-struck” when he lined up for Leicester City against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City last season because the former England midfielder is his idol.

James, who was born 11 months after Ronaldo joined Manchester United the first time in 2003, describes the prospect of facing the former Real Madrid forward as “a bit mad”.

He says Ronaldo’s career – which has so far included 146 international goals over 23 years – is a result of superhuman qualities.

“We’re all trying to achieve the same thing, to be the best player in the world,” James said.

“But you get those sort of aliens in a way that don’t seem human. You look at the Messis, the Neymars, the Ronaldos – they’ve just got that extra little quality where in big moments they turn up and can do it again and again and again.

“I think that’s the main thing. The longevity of how they’re able to do it is unbelievable.”