- Mullin on standby list for Wales national team
- Page saw Mullin in action last season
- Suffered a punctured lung in pre-season
WHAT HAPPENED? Wales manager Rob Page confirmed that he has kept the Wrexham star striker on the standby list for the Welsh squad ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying games later this month.
Page revealed that he had the opportunity to catch Mullin in action for the Red Dragons in an FA Cup clash against Sheffield United last season and had also spoken to Jack Lester, who is currently serving as an assistant in the Welsh national team and was a first-team coach for the Blades last season. Lester apparently spoke highly of the Wrexham forward, which prompted Page to include him in the standby list for the national team.
WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking to reporters, the Wales boss said: "Paul is on standby for the squad. I watched Paul Mullin 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."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Mullin enjoyed a dream campaign with Wrexham last season, scoring 38 league goals in 46 appearances and helping his club clinch promotion to League Two. The 29-year-old did not have an ideal start to the new season, though, as he suffered a punctured lung while playing in a pre-season match against Manchester United. Mullin has returned to action since then and has already netted twice in five matches for the Welsh club, but admits he is currently ignoring medical advice with regards to his long-term recovery.
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GettyWHAT NEXT? Wales are set to face Gibraltar in an international friendly on October 11, before taking on Croatia four days later in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.