DION Charles is warming up for Wembley in the best possible way after blasting Northern Ireland to a winning start in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The Wanderers striker grabbed both goals in a 2-0 win in San Marino – his first at international level – to move on to 20 for the season for club and country.

He will be looking for more on Sunday night when Michael O’Neill’s side host Finland at Windsor Park before coming back to Bolton to begin preparations for the Papa Johns Trophy final against Plymouth Argyle next weekend.

Charles had talked confidently about opening his account for Northern Ireland in the build-up to the game and with his double in Serravalle he has equalled the total number he managed playing for Accrington Stanley in 2020/2021.

No Bolton player since Michael Ricketts in 2001 has managed to hit the magical 20 mark in club football alone – but the 26-year-old has no doubt he is the man to do it.

“I think year on year you have to progress,” he said. “This is my first full season back playing since that season and I’ll break that, definitely.

“I have always said I want to get to 20 goals. That has always been my target and now there is a little carrot dangling at the end to get my name in the records.

“Since I came to the club I knew I had to repay the faith that the gaffer had shown in me. I have been working hard on and off the pitch and the goals have been flowing, so long may that continue.”

Charles has grabbed his fair share of the headlines at club level this season but he has been quick to point out that he has had plenty of support around him.

“I’m getting praise quite a lot for getting the goals but it is a team game and without my team-mates around me I wouldn’t get the opportunities I get to score,” he added.

“I’m just one of the lucky ones who gets to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Charles has never played at Wembley and is looking forward to the opportunity to lock horns with League One leaders Plymouth on the grand stage next Sunday, where Wanderers could lift their first domestic cup silverware 34 years.

“That’s a first for me and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It will be a brilliant day out for everyone involved at the club, considering where it was a few years ago – on the verge of having no team or no club.

“Now we’re in a final at Wembley and strong promotion contenders. It shows the progress we have made off the pitch, so now we have to do it on the pitch.”

After the final, Bolton have eight games remaining to seal a play-off spot. Charles remains optimistic that they can get their foot in the promotion door.

“I’ve never played in the Championship,” he added. “I came through at Blackpool in the Championship but never got the chance to play.

“For me, talking about progression and going one better every year, it’s my main aim to be playing there with Bolton next year.”