Proud Welshman Aaron Collins says it would be "a dream come true" to be called up to Rob Page's squad for the upcoming internationals.
The Bristol Rovers star is League One's outstanding player this season with 15 goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances, and with plenty of change in the Wales setup after a disappointing World Cup and Gareth Bale's retirement, there is the chance for the 25-year-old forward to flourish in a new era for his country.
Wales have European Championship qualifiers in Croatia and at home to Latvia on March 25 and March 28, meaning Collins could be unavailable for Rovers manager Joey Barton for the trip to Shrewsbury Town, but no one at the club would begrudge him a chance to represent his country, and it is clear to see how much it would mean to him.
"It would be a dream come true for me to even make the squad," Collins told BBC Wales. "Playing for your country is one of the biggest things you can ever do in your career. If I'm able to get that chance, it would be a dream come true for me.
"It would mean the world to my family as well. They want what's best for me and they want me to do the best that I can in my career. Everyone in the family would be so happy for me and hopefully, I can just get this chance to go and prove that I can do it on that stage.
"I'm hoping for the best and if I get my chance, I'll be looking to take it, but if it doesn't, I'll keep working harder to get that chance in June or next season."
There were signs of Collins' ability during spells with Morecambe and Forest Green Rovers and he was snapped up by Wolves shortly before they returned to the Premier League, but he has represented Wales just once at age-group level – a single appearance as a 17-year-old for the under-19s way back in 2015.
Eight years on, there may not be a Welsh player in better form in the EFL and Collins is knocking on the door for a call-up.
Aside from that one outing as a teenager, his experience with Wales has solely been as a fan.
"I'm massively proud of my nationality," he said. "I'm Welsh through and through. I haven't really been around the youth setup or around the first-team, but hopefully, there is a chance now because of what I'm doing on the pitch.
"I watched all the games in the World Cup and it does affect you. Just getting to a World Cup was such a big thing for the country. You want to kick on and do more, but it didn't quite work out, but as we all know, the players did the country proud and it was a great achievement for Wales.
"Even when you play football, you're watching on, because it's your country, you get emotionally attached. You get the highs and the lows, the anger and the celebrations, which always starts off with the anthems.
"I've always followed and I'm very proud to be Welsh. When we were in the Euros in 2016, I'll never forget that, watching the games against Belgium and Portugal.
"The highs going through that, it's what you want to be doing as an international fan, you want to be following your country. We had a great chance to do something spectacular and to get to a semi-final was amazing.
"The enjoyment that it brought me and all the Welsh fans was amazing. We ended up getting to the World Cup and hopefully, it just keeps looking up for Wales in international football."
With Bale and Joe Allen retired – solely from international duty for the latter – and several other senior players past their peak, there will be chances for new players to take on the mantle.
Collins is desperate to be one of them.
"I'd like to think that (the changing landscape of Welsh football) will benefit me, because from an individual point of view, you haven't had a chance before and you might have a chance to go and prove yourself," Collins added.
"There's a lot of young players coming through and it's the start of a new generation, you could say.
"There's a new team that's going to be built and hopefully, it can be the start of a plan going into the future for international football.
"It would be an amazing experience and a stepping stone in my career, where I get to go and play with players who play in the Premier League, at the top level and I could go and learn so much from them.
"It would be amazing for me personally and it would benefit me hugely in my career."
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