Qatar World Cup call-up a ‘fitting finale’ to Wimbledon defender Chris Gunter’s international career

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson says it is a “fitting finale” to Chris Gunter’s international career that he was called up to the Wales squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup squad.

Gunter, Wales’ most capped player with 109 appearances, made his debut for the Dragons in 2007 under John Toshack as a 17-year-old.

He joined the Dons in the summer following his release from Charlton Athletic and has made 20 appearances under Jackson at Plough Lane.

The former Reading and Nottingham Forest full-back played every minute of Wales’ Euro 2016 campaign, which saw Chris Coleman’s side reach the semi-final stage.

Wales kick off their first game of Group B against the USA tonight, with Gunter expected to start on the bench for Page’s side.

“I’m really pleased for Chris,” said Jackson. “It’s a fitting finale to his international career that he is going to a World Cup with Wales. They have waited years to get to one.

“I’m delighted for him, just disappointed that we will miss him. But it’s great for us as a club to have a representative at the World Cup.

“I knew Gunts before at my previous club, and I knew what I was getting – a guy who is 33 years of age, never misses a training session, he’s fit for every game, and he gets on with his job.

“His form has been improving as the season has gone on.

“He has been an outstanding example to the rest of the lads. Part of the reason I wanted to bring him in was that I felt that the squad I inherited needed characters like him.

“It’s what we lacked last season, and Chris leads by example on the pitch and with how he conducts himself every day around the training ground.”