Wrexham’s Paul Mullin in shock Wales standby call for Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia
PAUL MULLIN is on stand-by for Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia.
The Wrexham striker, 28, has scored 78 goals in 97 games for the League Two outfit since joining in 2021.
But Wales are without Brennan Johnson, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
And there are concerns over the fitness of Millwall’s Tom Bradshaw, who also has a hamstring issue so Mullin could be in the mix for a debut call-up for the October 15 clash in Cardiff.
Wales boss Robert Page, whose side also faces Gibraltar in a friendly next Wednesday, said: “Paul is on standby for the squad.
“I watched Paul against Sheffield United last year, and Jack Lester – my coach, who was at Sheffield United at the time – sang his praises.
“We’ve had a few conversations about Paul, so the next step is he’s now on standby and he’s one step away.
“We monitor the Welsh players, and Paul is certainly one we’ve taken note of – and he deserves that. This is the next step of his development.”
Mullin was born in Liverpool but qualifies for Wales through his grandmother.
Johnson was due to be in the squad until Page received a late call on Tuesday night as the forward is set to miss Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Luton on Saturday.
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Page added: “It’s not a serious one. But unfortunately the timing dictates this and so if he is not going to be right for Spurs then it’s not fair for us to pick him and try to play him.”
Wales are without captain Aaron Ramsey due to a knee injury with Spurs defender Ben Davies set to lead the Dragons.
Uncapped duo Charlie Savage, 20, and son of former Wales and Leicester midfielder Robbie and Owen Beck, 21, earn their first senior call-ups.
Meanwhile, Wales fans have branded chief executive Noel Mooney a ‘p*** taker’ for trying to hike ticket prices for Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The hard-up Dragons are looking to maximise every financial resource available to them.
Football Association of Wales chief Mooney proposed a ticket price increase midway through the qualifying campaign.
But Welsh fans represented at a Football Supporters’ Association meeting strongly opposed the idea due to the cost-of-living crisis plus a poor run of two wins in their 14 matches.
Mooney backed down for now but the Irishman wants a price review ahead of a possible Euro 2024 play-off next March.
The minutes from the meeting read: “A few people in the meeting expressed their disappointment and concern that any increase in the near future is even being considered, due to the current financial crisis.”
Wales fan John McAllister tweeted: “Mooney and the FAW are taking the p*** here. Glad the FSA shut them down on it.
“Raising prices mid tournament would’ve been an absolutely p*** take of fans who for the most part are struggling financially already.”
Wales attracted a sparse crowd of just 13,668 – their lowest home attendance, Covid aside – in four years against South Korea last month with fans criticising the prices of £25 plus a £3 booking fee.
Only yesterday did the Dragons put the sell-out signs on Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground for the October 11 friendly against Gibraltar.
While the FAW have sold 26,000 tickets for the Euro 2024 home qualifier against Croatia four days later and expect a capacity crowd of 33,000 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Page’s Wales have been cutting costs in recent months and SunSport revealed players sharing hotel rooms and purse strings tightened on opposition analysis.
Wales squad
Goalkeepers: Hennessey, Ward, A Davies
Defenders: B Davies, Rodon, Lockyer, Mepham, Poole, Cabango, Williams, Beck, Roberts
Midfielders: Burns, Ampadu, Savage, J James, Levitt, Sheehan, D James, Broadhead, Wilson
Forwards: Brooks, Cullen, Harris, Moore, Bradshaw.