CHRIS Mepham says featuring at a World Cup for Wales has given him the “hunger inside” to qualify for more major tournaments.

Mepham was part of squad for both the delayed Euro 2020 and last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Following a raft of experienced players retiring from international duty, there is a new feel about Rob Page’s Dragons heading into this Euro 2024 qualifying camp.

Wales got off to a good start, rescuing a point at the death to draw 1-1 with Croatia, who finished third in Qatar.

Mepham played a key role, providing the assist for Nathan Broadhead.

Wales next face Latvia on Tuesday.

Asked if featuring at the World Cup has given him the appetite for more big games with Wales, Cherries centre-back Mepham told the Daily Echo: “Certainly. I had that similar sort of feeling when I came away from the Euros.

“I really enjoyed it and was pleased, but certainly coming away from it I felt like in myself I wanted more of those opportunities.

“I wanted to go and play for Wales in a World Cup, I wanted to then see if we could then qualify for the next tournament.

“I think you get that hunger inside of you that wants to attack the next thing.

“We’ve got a great opportunity now where we can qualify for another Euros and that will be three major tournaments in a row that a small nation like Wales is qualifying for.

“Hopefully we can do that and I get exposed to many more opportunities on the bigger stage.”

One player Wales are now without is talismanic Gareth Bale, who has hung his boots up from professional football.

“I always have BBC News notifications on my phone, so I get a notification when something significant happens,” explained Mepham.

“My phone went off and I see that Gareth Bale has retired. I was very surprised, I certainly wasn’t expecting it.

“The way everyone said goodbye to each other after the World Cup, it was very much a case of normal service resumes. I was expecting to see everyone at the next camp.

“He's someone that for me was massive when I came through. He welcomed me with open arms, as he did with every player that comes into the Wales setup.

“Off the pitch he will be a massive miss, but certainly on the pitch, those moments of quality that he’s shown over the last couple of years that have helped us get into these big tournaments.

“The goal against Ukraine, just moments like that where you know that at any point in a game where we are on the back foot or something like that, he can step up and be that guy that grabs the game by the scruff of the neck.

“I think he will be big boots to fill. But we’ve got a very young, exciting squad coming through and hopefully someone can be that guy to even half replicate what he’s done in a Wales shirt.”