Caley Thistle goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams hopes thriving with Inverness can boost his prospects of winning his first Wales cap.
Just hours after joining Caley Jags, manager John Hughes gave Fon Williams the nod ahead of veteran Ryan Esson for Thursday’s Europa League second qualifying round home leg against FC Astra, which the Highlanders lost 1-0.
Inverness play the return leg in Romania on Thursday, with a potential tie against English Premier Division side West Ham United awaiting the winners.
A former Wales under-21 international, Williams has been called up to Wales’ first-team squad several times but has yet to make his debut for Chris Coleman’s side, who are on course to qualify for Euro 2016 having established a three-point lead ahead of Belgium at the top of qualifying Group B.
Williams left English club Tranmere Rovers following its relegation from League 2 last season and the 28-year-old reckons his move to Scotland can help his international ambitions.
After playing in the 1-0 win at Highland League club Nairn County on Saturday Williams said: “This is definitely a step up for me. Everything is a learning curve.
“Playing in the Scottish Premiership is going to be a good experience. It’s one I want to cherish and make the most of.
“It’s a fantastic league, and a fantastic club. I want to remain involved with the Wales squad. There are a few games coming up which will be important for the nation. We are ranked 10th in the world at the minute and doing fantastically well.
“I see similar togetherness in the Welsh squad as I do here. A team needs that togetherness, and we definitely have it at this club.”
Williams is determined to retain his place for Thursday’s match in Romania, adding: “No place is given, I have to earn it.
“The game against Astra was a great game to be involved in. It was an historic match for the club and terrific to be part of it.
“We’re all working hard to improve as a team, and do what the manager wants us to do.
“It was a good run out for us against Nairn on Saturday.
“Every day in training I’m developing and improving, and getting to grips with everything at this club.”