Laura Hughes: Wales call up one-cap Australia midfielder for Spain camp
While the Football Association of Wales is looking for qualified Welsh players to bolster its playing resources, Wilkinson insisted he would only select those desperate to wear the red jersey.
“I think we talked about expanding the network, getting the road players involved and making sure we see everyone,” he said.
“At the same time we can’t lose [sight of the fact] This is Wales and to play for this country and wear this badge is the privilege of a lifetime.
“For him (Hughes) to show that determination right from the start with no guarantee he would get into the team, I think it goes a long way to showing who he is and also how important he feels being Welsh is to the group.”
Hughes is the only new player included in the Wales starting squad since Jess Fishlock’s international retirement, although there are four other free agents including Poppy Soper, Annie Wilding, Olivia Francis and Phoebie Poole.
Rhiannon Roberts, Ella Powell, Rachel Rowe, Lily Woodham and Esther Morgan are remembered to have missed last month’s defeats against Poland and Australia through injury, but Josie Green and Soffia Kelly are again missing from the squad.
Anna Filbey, Alice Griffiths, Lois Joel, Gwen Zimmerman, Scarlet Hill, Amy Richardson and Teagan Scarlett were not included as they were not part of the previous Wales squad.
