James 'bigger and stronger' after Wales miss - Page

Rob Page says Daniel James will be a better player for club and country as a result of the penalty miss which ended Wales’ hopes of reaching Euro 2024.

Wales will be left watching on this summer after Poland pipped them to a place at the tournament in their play-off final in March.

Page’s men will reconvene for the first time since that agonising defeat for friendlies against Gibraltar on 6 June and Slovakia three days later.

Leeds United forward James was the only player to miss in the penalty shootout against Poland, who progressed to the finals despite failing to register a shot on target in 120 minutes against Wales.

Page says James, 26, deserves praise for his response after the decisive spot-kick, which was saved Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

“I have had a couple of messages back and forth with him - he is an incredible person first and foremost,” Page said.

“He had the courage to step up and take that penalty, which he deserves an enormous amount of credit for anyway, and he will be bigger and stronger having gone through that experience, as horrible as it was for all of us.

“Credit to him, he went and scored [for Leeds] the week after from the halfway line.”

James’ spectacular goal against Hull City was one of 13 he has managed in 45 Leeds appearances this season.

His last club assignment of the campaign comes in Sunday’s Championship play-off final against Southampton.

Page is due to name his squad for Gibraltar and Slovakia at the end of this month.

He says former Manchester United player James will have a major role to play as Wales turn their attention turns to the next Nations League campaign, which begins with a home fixture against Turkey on Friday, 6 September.

“No doubt DJ (James) will be a big part in what we are going to do moving forward and no doubt will score important goals for us moving forward,” Page said.

“We have all got his back, we are all with him. It happens and that’s it, we have to move forward.”