Adam Davies hopes a week that has seen him miss two days of training with illness and probably lose out on a chance to face Gareth Bale in Wales training will end with victory at Burton Albion tomorrow.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper has not been named in the Wales squad for their upcoming international games but there is still a chance he could get a late call-up like earlier this season. He enjoyed his first experience with the national team, including taking on Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale in training.

He told the Chronicle: "It was really good. It's something I have been longing for for a long time and it was a proud day for my mum and dad. It wasn't just down to me, all the players at Barnsley have helped me get that call-up by doing their defensive work.  

"It was great to rub shoulders with the top players and I did save a few shots in training from Gareth Bale.  I know I just have to keep working hard and playing well to get back into the next squad. One of my career goals is to get into the Wales squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which I think we have a good chance of qualifying for."

Davies was the latest Reds player to come down with the virus which has run through the squad, causing him to stay away from Oakwell on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning to training yesterday.

He said: "I felt a bit rough in training but I should be fine for the game at Burton. I am glad we didn't have a Tuesday night match because that was when I was at my worst."

Davies – who has played 91 games for Barnsley since arriving in 2014 – is pleased that the Reds ended a run of one point in six games. He said: "It's been really important to get four points from the last two games because that run we were on before was horrible.

"After what we went through last season with losing eight in a row, we know we can bounce back from anything and that things will come good if we just keep working hard on the training pitch. Our performances have been good pretty much all season so we knew we would start picking up points again soon.

"We have got four from two and it would be great to go into the international break with seven from three and sitting high up in the league. Survival was our aim at the start of the season and it still is. Anything more than that is a bonus."

Davies was used to a settled defence for much of 2016 but has been shielded recently by a very inexperienced back four with some players out of position. He said: "We have had to chop and change the team a lot but everyone who has come in has done well. I'm really happy with how the lads have been doing but it would be nice to get a settled back four – that's when the rewards really come."