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The same goes for Cardiff coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who took charge in the summer to reshape a Bluebirds side struggling with relegation to the Championship.
The Irishman has instilled an active, attacking playing style similar to Bellamy’s with Wales, and has built his team around the products of Cardiff’s academy.
This has led to an influx of Cardiff players into recent Wales squads, the most recent of which included four academy graduates, including Kbakio.
“He (Barry Murphy) is very important. He really changed the way we all think,” Kbakio adds.
“Our mentality has shaped into something we really cherish. You see how we play, how we press, for example, it’s very intense, and he’s a big part of that, along with the other staff.
“I would say the style of play really suits me as a player, and I really like it. I feel more comfortable and confident in what I’m doing.”
Kbakio embodies many of the qualities of a modern full-back: adventurous and creative, equally adept at overlapping and running in behind the winger up front or turning the play around to link up play in midfield.
“I would say I’m very positive about the way I play,” he says. “I’m overlapping, and people will see how often we do that, and how aggressive I am.”
“When you’re younger there’s a lot of players you want to look up to, but when you play as a right-back, I’ve seen players like Reece James and Trent. [Alexander-Arnold], [Jeremie] Frimpong, players with that attacking nature. “They are able to show what they can do in attack as well as defence.”
In the midst of a busy period for Cardiff and Wales, Kbakio will have plenty of opportunities to show how effective he can be at doing both.
Looking at the trajectory of his young career so far, it’s only going in one direction.
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