WATCHING Wales compete at Euro 2020 from home this summer, Josh Sheehan may feel a pang of disappointment to temper his delight at sealing a move to Bolton Wanderers.

The 26-year-old could hardly have done more to get himself noticed at international level, turning out a gut-bursting 53 times for Newport County in League Two and earning call-ups in friendlies against the USA and Mexico during the season just gone.

He even took to the field for Newport in the play-off final just 24 hours after learning he would not be playing at this summer’s tournament, producing another big performance in the centre of midfield, and what turned out to be his last.

Sheehan had known his inclusion was by no means certain, speaking in the build up to Wembley.

"A year ago I would have said there was no hope of being in the mix for the Euros because I hadn't had a look-in,” he sold the South Wales Argus.

"It would be unbelievable if I am in it, I would be so happy, but I won't be down if I'm not because it's not something that I have expected.

"It won't change anything for Monday. If I am in or out, Wales is nothing to do with that game and I will have full concentration."

Equally, the midfielder will hope a move to Bolton, playing at a higher level and with a club desperate to maintain their promotion momentum, will mean there are plenty more international caps on the horizon.

Indeed, with Lloyd Isgrove, Gethin Jones and MJ Williams already in the camp and Declan John still deciding whether his future lies in the North West, the Wales scouts may do well to enquire about discounted room rates at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

Midfield will be a hotly contested spot for Wanderers next season, although in Sheehan it is possible that Ian Evatt has signed his first truly ‘box-to-box’ type.

Whereas MJ Williams, Antoni Sarcevic, George Thomason, Andy Tutte, Ronan Darcy and even Kieran Lee tip the balance one way or another towards defence or attack, the new arrival looks to be the first ‘deeper lying’ playmaker at Evatt’s disposal.

Technically, his possession stats from last season suggest he will be a good fit for Wanderers. Demanding plenty of the ball, Sheehan ranked highly among League Two midfielders for accurate progressive passes, dribbles and attacking runs.

His career to date has been played almost entirely in the fourth tier, although his Newport boss Mike Flynn believes he could have stayed at the top level had it not been for a serious knee injury which kept him out of action for a year.

“If he didn’t have that bad injury I think he would have stayed at Swansea,” he said earlier this month.

“He’s an outstanding footballer and I’m very fortunate to be working with him.

“This could be his last Newport game. I’m sure he has attracted a lot of attention this season and there will be a lot of suitors for him.”

Sheehan was released by the Swans in 2018, having been with the club since the age of 10.

Speaking after his call-up to the Welsh squad last season, he acknowledged how important Newport had been in getting his career back on track.

"When you have the long injuries - I was out for a year when I did my knee - it's tough,” he said.

"If you speak to those close to me they will tell you I have always believed in my ability and knew when I am playing regularly, it would shine through eventually. It just makes it sweet now.

"When you leave a top club, who were in the Premier League at the time, you think may be that's the end.

"But when you go out on loan at a young age you realise its not just about your parent club.

"There is more out there than just that club. It was nice for me that once I left the Swans, Newport were willing to take me and to repay them."

Wanderers will be hoping their own faith pays off in such handsome fashion.