Paul Mullin: Wrexham striker 'does not expect' Wales call-up
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Paul Mullin scored 46 goals in all competitions in 2022-23 as Wrexham won promotion to end a 15-year absence from the Football League
Wrexham striker Paul Mullin admits he does not expect to receive a Wales call-up.
The Liverpool-born forward qualifies to play for Wales through a grandparent and was on standby for the 4-0 friendly win over Gibraltar on 11 October.
And international football remains an ambition for 28-year-old Mullin.
"I'll hold out the hope that If I'm playing well enough and I get the chance to do so, I'd be over the moon," he said on the Proper Football podcast.
He added: "I don't expect to be called up."
Speaking ahead of his side's comfortable win against Gibraltar, Wales manager Robert Page said of Mullin: "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."
A key criticism facing Mullin surrounding his international prospects has been his decision to leave Cambridge United two years ago.
Mullin scored a League Two record 32 goals during the 2020-21 season to help Cambridge into League One - but then dropped down two tiers to join Wrexham.
"As an international manager, you've got players who are already registered for the country playing at higher levels," added Mullin.
"In football, it's been said I could've played at a higher level and I chose not to so I can't really hold a grudge for then not being selected because I chose to come and play here.
"Although, me personally, I don't think it should be a problem.
"One of the interviews was, 'if he scores goals in League Two then they'd look at calling him up', but I've already got the record for scoring the most goals in a season in League Two.
"For me, I play football for Wrexham and give my all to score as many as I can.
"If the opportunity came, it would be beyond my wildest dreams for a player at this level to be called up for a national team."
Meanwhile, Mullin, 28, opened up on the severe injuries that kept him out of action in the early stages of the 2023-24 season.
The forward suffered a punctured lung and broke several ribs as a result of a collision with goalkeeper Nathan Bishop during Wrexham's 3-1 pre-season win over Manchester United in San Diego.
Paul Mullin was taken to hospital after breaking four ribs and suffering a punctured lung during Wrexham's pre-season win over Manchester United in July.
"It's something you don't expect or want to happen while you're abroad," he said.
"10 minutes in, the ball goes in behind Jonny Evans, I ran after it, the goalkeeper comes out, makes a bit of a hash of it and cleans me out instead of the ball.
"The next thing, I couldn't breathe for a couple of minutes.
"I was on the floor, and at that point, I actually started fearing the worst.
"The medical staff rushed on. I saw faces above me and after it they told me my lips had turned blue.
"Judging by their facial expressions, that was the moment I thought 'oh dear, I'm in trouble here'.
"But the medical professionals we've got and the ones that were on hand at the stadium, thankfully it was alright.
"I say alright, I came out with four broken ribs and a punctured lung, but I was alright to tell the story."
Mullin returned from injury as a substitute during Wrexham's 2-1 win over Doncaster Rovers on 9 September.
He has scored four goals in 10 League Two appearances for Phil Parkinson's side so far this term.