MJ Williams hopes success with Wanderers can translate to an international return with Wales.

It is six years since the midfielder – then a teenager in Liverpool colours - was called-up to a friendly squad by Chris Coleman for a friendly against Cyprus.

Since then, Williams has overcome a potentially career-ending knee injury and rebuilt his career with the likes of Rochdale and Blackpool, before finding success with Ian Evatt’s Bolton in League Two last season.

Now one of the integral parts of an ambitious team looking to push towards the Championship, the 25-year-old would love nothing more than to catch the eye of the international selectors again.

“I have been called up once to the first team and for me and my family it was amazing,” he said.

“Growing up in Wales it was a dream to get into that squad and it always will be to get back in there too.

“At the moment I am concentrating on playing the best I can for Bolton, that’s the main thing.

“I love my football here and that’s the main thing because I have got the confidence to play, and if that call-up comes one day then I will be delighted.

“For now, I’ll crack on.”

Williams has been virtually ever-present for Wanderers since arriving at the club in January and his no-nonsense approach on the pitch has proved popular with the club’s supporters.

The Bangor-born midfielder admits the move could not have worked out much better.

“I am in a much better place right now because I’d had a tough time prior to coming to Bolton,” he said.

“Now I love coming in every day. I love the club.

“The gaffer, the staff, the fans have all been brilliant with me as well, I have had a lot of love from them, and it’s pay off on the pitch because it gives me the lift. I want to go out there and give everything I can for this club.

“All I want to do is keep playing my football, keep playing well, and hopefully get this club going again.”

Wales currently sit third in Group E behind Belgium and the Czech Republic, who they face next month in Prague in what looks to be a pivotal game.

Robert Page’s side also travel to Estonia before hosting Belarus and Belgium in November to complete the qualifiers.

Williams says he, Declan John, Gethin Jones and Lloyd Isgrove have all got ambitions to return to the international fold by virtue of their form at Bolton.

“All of us love Wales. Gethin still speaks fluent Welsh to his girlfriend, so that just shows how much it means to him,” he said.

“They have been to see Josh, which is a positive, and that means they will have opportunities to see us all play, which can only be a good thing.

“It is an inspiration for us to get back into that team – me, Dec, Geth, Izzy – and hopefully one day that will come.”