Josh Sheehan couldn’t bear to watch Wanderers last season as months of rehabilitation stretched out ahead of him.

The Wales international saw a bright start at the UniBol wrecked by a serious knee injury in last November’s FA Cup defeat at Stockport County.

Now, after battling back to full fitness and featuring twice in the Papa Johns Trophy, Sheehan cannot wait to push his claim for a return to Ian Evatt’s first team once again.

Speaking to The Bolton News, the 27-year-old admitted there had been some difficult days last winter soon after his injury.

“When I first did it I really found it hard watching the lads, knowing it was such a long journey to get to the point I’m at now,” he said. “I felt a bit down, to be fair, but I had good family and friends around me, the gaffer and the lads always asked how I was, which was good, you don’t want to be forgotten about. I felt involved and just kept myself going by thinking about this moment.

“For nine months me and Izzy were there, lonely days in the gym, when the boys are out there and training. It was hard but you know it leads to games playing in front of those fans again, so it is amazing to be back.

“I am grateful to my family and having a little girl too, it kept me busy. You need something away from football to occupy your mind.

“But now it is just the best feeling being back out there.”

Sheehan has had to check his comeback in recent weeks, having played against Crewe, he had to wait a few weeks before playing again at Tranmere.

Manager Evatt had said he wanted to ensure the midfielder was eased back into action slowly to minimise the risk of him suffering any further problems.

Now back in the fold, Sheehan hopes to be back playing in League One before too long.

“It’s the goal for everyone isn’t it?” he said.

“I think there are a few boys who want to get into the team and the only way you can do it is by constantly working hard and showing you are ready. “For me, it’s keep training and keep knocking on the gaffer’s door with the way I am training.”

Sheehan had been joined in his rehab by Lloyd Isgrove, who made his return to the first team at Prenton Park on Tuesday night.

Isgrove’s initial comeback from a torn hamstring lasted less than 45 minutes as he suffered a recurrence of the injury in a reserve team game against Fleetwood Town in March.

That sent him back for a second spell alongside Sheehan – whose recovery had been estimated at nine months.

“We have not far off had the same journey,” he said. “Mentally, it would have been hard for him to go again after he had done his first lot of rehab but I tried to make sure I was there for him, chatting to him.

“In a way it was good to have him there because we both just kept each other going.

“Often it was only me and him in the gym when the lads were off or at away games, so it is hard, but having him there helped a lot.”

Sheehan had been on the fringes of the Wales squad before his injury and watching his team-mates qualify for this winter’s World Cup finals was also bittersweet.

He is now looking to re-establish his club form before worrying about his international ambition.

“It is another hard part of being injured, watching the teams that I could potentially be involved in,” he said of the Welsh squad, who face Belgium and Poland over the current international break.

“No doubt, it is tough, but for me it is about getting back to playing for Bolton Wanderers, getting back to playing how I was, the best of my ability. If I can help the team then playing for Wales will take care of itself.”