Perth-born defender receives Wales call-up
May 26, 2017 - 5:07 AM A prospective future Socceroo appears to have committed his services to Wales after accepting a call-up to their senior national team.Everton defender Gethin Jones has been included in manager Chris Coleman's training squad for Wales' World Cup qualifier against Serbia in June.
The 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Barnsley, was born in Perth but returned to Wales with his family as a toddler before joining Everton's academy at 12.
And unlike Greek Australian Socceroos striker Apo Giannou and Australia's latest bolter Ajdin Hrustic, who shunned interest from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jones has previously admitted he feels "more Welsh than Australian".
Coleman said Jones is "fully committed" to Wales and added the right-back had long been on his radar, having captained Wales from the under-16s through to under-21 level.
He's also been under Australia's watch, keeping with coach Ange Postecoglou's pledge not to let any talent anywhere in the world slip through the cracks.
It's hardly been an international tug of war, though an Australian official did make a phone call to Jones late last year to gauge his international future ahead of a junior development camp in Spain led up by Olyroos coach Josep Gombau.
Early this year Jones admitted he hadn't made up his mind but appeared to lean towards Wales.
"Australia contacted Everton two or three months back asking for me to play for their under-23s but I didn't want to make any decisions then," he told The Football League Paper in February.
"I feel more Welsh than Australian. I've been Wales captain from the under-16s to the under-21s so if the first team called I'd definitely go for that.
"But it depends now. If Australia came in before Wales you never know, it's something I'd have to seriously think about."
Jones has never played for Everton's first team but made 17 appearances during his loan stint with Barnsley.
Source: AAP
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