Sorba Thomas feels he has benefited from some “straight talking” after making an impressive return to international football with Wales.
The Huddersfield winger, who recently began a season-long loan with French Ligue 1 club Nantes, shone in a 0-0 Nations League draw against Turkey.
He had a first-half goal disallowed and was a constant attacking threat during Craig Bellamy’s first game as Wales manager.
Thomas had not featured on the international stage since March 2023, an 18-month period that included him joining Blackburn on loan, then Nantes after a spell back with the Terriers.
It was more than two years since he last started for Wales, yet the 25-year-old made an immediate impact.
“With the relegation at Huddersfield (to League One), I felt like I needed a fresh start,” Thomas said.
“I’m a winner, I’m not a good loser. You can see when I’m angry and upset on the pitch. Those things I had to change.
“I needed to be a better team-mate. It’s not always about ‘me, me, me’. Sometimes, I can use the team to make me look better and the team can use me to be better too.
“A lot of harsh realities were spoken, a lot of straight talking from people around me – my family, friends, my agent, other coaches that I’ve worked with.
“I took it on board, and the move to France came at the right time for me to go away, put my head down, focus on football, focus on being a better person and getting the Wales call-up, it felt like it was working.
“I’m there (at Nantes) to improve as a player. It is a different environment, different tests which will make me a better player, so I can bring that to Wales.”
Thomas took his chance superbly against Turkey, relishing an opportunity to be back in Wales’ starting XI and immediately rewarding Bellamy’s faith in him.
“Him showing faith in me was amazing for me and my family, and I just wanted to show him how good I am on the ball,” Thomas added.
“He is someone who played in the position I play in, and it is good to learn from him. He pulls me to one side to give me some advice.
“I’ve taken it on board, and he told me to just be free when I got the ball, and that’s what I did.
“We are going to be a threat at international level. The manager and the coaching staff, that is what they are going to make us do.
“We are a country coming under the radar and a lot of countries are going to be wary of us.
“The manager knows what he is doing. He has been around people like Vincent Kompany and played under top managers. It was the first game of a new era.”