Gunther may have to borrow Gareth’s jet
Chris Gunter is hoping Gareth Bale will lend him his private jet to fly out family for his record-breaking Wales appearance in Albania.
Gunter will become Wales’ most capped player on Tuesday night when he overtakes former goalkeeper Neville Southall’s 92-game haul.
But the Reading full-back is struggling to get family out to the Albania friendly and may turn to Wales team-mate and Real Madrid star Bale for help.
“I’ll ask Gaz if I can borrow his plane,” Gunter said.
“It’s not the easiest place to get to, but if the fans can do it, I’m sure I can.
“I’ll be trying to get some family over there. But I know they’ll be watching somewhere, even if I can’t, as they’ve done that throughout my career.”
Manager Ryan Giggs will make changes after Friday’s 2-1 Nations League defeat to Denmark denied his Wales side promotion to the top tier of the competition and a Euro 2020 playoff spot.
Defenders James Chester and Paul Dummett are set to miss out after picking up injuries against Denmark that forced them both off.
Giggs also confirmed Gunter would start in Elbasan, and the 29-year-old says Albania is an appropriate place to break Southall’s record.
“It’s fitting in a way to do it, in front of those fans,” Gunter said. “A lot of those who will be in Albania have been to far and wide places where I’ve picked up a lot of my caps.
“To do it in front of those fans who spend their hard-earned money getting to these places would be a huge honour.
“Everywhere we go we take lots of fans, they always seem to be there. It’s a constant when we play for Wales.”
Nearly 2,000 fans will make the trip to Elbasan, Albania’s third largest city, an away hour away from the capital Tirana.
And Gunter has promised them that Wales will not be taking the game lightly after the disappointment of losing to Denmark.
“It’s not the case if people think it’s just a friendly and a game we have to fulfil,” said Chris.
“It’s a game for your country and it will matter. We will be doing everything to get the result.
“Every game for Wales matters and I think that’s something that the fans recognise and appreciate from us.”