Dummett Delighted With Wales Call-Up

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

Paul Dummett says being called up for the Wales squad ahead of their friendly against Holland is a "massive honour."

The Newcastle left-back won his first - and so far only - international cap against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in June 2014.

He was set to start their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium last June before suffering a hamstring injury but, having fully recovered to start each of Newcastle's last three games, could now collect his second cap against Danny Blind's side in Cardiff later this month.

Not only could that see him come against his Magpies team-mates Georginio Wijnaldum, Daryl Janmaat and Vurnon Anita, but it also gives him an opportunity to push for a place in Chris Coleman's squad for the European Championships next summer.

Wales upset the odds to qualify for their first major tournament since 1958 and Dummett knows that he has a real chance of featuring in France if he continues to put in his usual solid defensive displays for United.

"I'm delighted to be back involved," the 24-year-old told nufc.co.uk. "I had to withdraw from the squad in May when I injured my hamstring in training ahead of the Belgium game and I had missed a couple of important games since then, as well as the start of the Premier League season.

"But the hamstring feels fine now and I feel like I'm getting stronger as I get more match fitness, and it's a great boost for me that Chris Coleman has called me up.

"Even when I was injured, the Welsh FA were regularly in touch about my progress, so that was great, and to be back in the squad now that I'm fit is brilliant.

"It's always a massive honour to be called up for Wales and with the Euros coming up, I will relish any opportunity I can get to try to get on that plane.

"It won't be easy because there's a lot of competition, but hopefully I can play some part against Holland and show Chris Coleman what I can do."

Dummett added: "It would be a strange coincidence if both my first and second Wales caps came against Holland - but hopefully we will get a different result this time around as we lost 2-0 on my debut.

"Coming up against Gini, Daryl and Vurnon would be interesting, too and I'm sure there'll be a bit of banter about that before we report for international duty.

"But before that, we've got a big game against Bournemouth in the Premier League so we'll all be concentrating on that."

The Wales squad to face Holland on Friday, 13th November is: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Daniel Ward (Liverpool), Owain Fôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), James Chester (West Bromwich Albion), James Collins (West Ham United), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Gunter (Reading), Neil Taylor (Swansea City), Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Dummett (Newcastle United), Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace), Joe Allen (Liverpool), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest), Emyr Huws (Wigan Athletic), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Andy King (Leicester City), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), David Cotterill (Birmingham City), Tom Lawrence (Leicester City), Tom Bradshaw (Walsall), Simon Church (Milton Keynes Dons), Sam Vokes (Burnley)