SWINDON Town attacker Jonny Williams described the moment he was called up to play for Wales at the 2022 World Cup as “surreal and emotional.”

Williams was announced as part of Rob Page’s 26-man squad on Wednesday night alongside the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale.

The 29-year-old’s country – who he qualifies for through his Welsh father – will play against England, the USA, and Iran in late November, and Williams will hope to help maintain the Dragons’ 100 per cent record of always making it out of the group stage at a major tournament.

Swindon’s mercurial number eight admitted he thought his chances of playing for Wales again had passed by when he was dropped by Ryan Giggs in the mid-2010s, therefore the joy he now feels at being given a chance to play on the world stage is unbridled.

Recounting the moment he was given the news of his call-up, Williams said: “It was very surreal and emotional.

“I went back home to Tonbridge and watched the announcement with my mum, dad, and girlfriend. Until it’s official you’re never totally sure, so seeing that announcement on the screen was quite emotional for me.

“You think about the journey I’ve been over the past 15 years, ever since I played for Wales Under-15s as a 14-year-old. 15 years later, to get named in a World Cup squad left me speechless really – it’s an unbelievable achievement.

“There was a period where I dropped down the divisions, after Ryan Giggs took over, that I didn’t make the Wales squads. It was tough because I thought that was it for me.

“I had 17 caps at the time, and I thought that might be it, but here I am a few years later on 33 and going to another major tournament.”

The 29-year-old’s final game before meeting up with the Wales squad will be a League Two contest against Tranmere Rovers at the County Ground on Saturday.

Most would understand if Williams took it easy, or even pulled out of the squad altogether given what is at stake, but the Welshman revealed he has been thinking about going to the Middle East for weeks now and has managed to perform at some of the highest standards of his career.

Williams said: “I’ve had one eye on this for probably the last month, and it’s been the best month of my career in a long time.

“I’ve been nominated for player of the month in a couple of different places, I’ve scored goals, we’ve won games – it’s been one of the most successful months of my career.

“The World Cup has always been on my mind, but I played like I always have done and it’s gone really well.”